Super typhoon “Uwan,” which battered the Philippines over the weekend before weakening and moving into the West Philippine Sea, left thousands stranded and displaced across Luzon and Visayas, according to authorities.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported Monday that one fatality occurred in Viga, Catanduanes, due to drowning, and another in Catbalogan City, Samar, after a person was struck by a collapsed structure.
Two injuries were also reported. Damage assessments remain ongoing, and the OCD cautioned that the number of casualties could climb as more reports arrive from affected areas.
Prior to Uwan’s landfall, over 1.4 million individuals — approximately 426,000 families — were preemptively evacuated across 12 regions, primarily in Bicol, Eastern Visayas and CALABARZON.
Despite “Uwan” weakening to a typhoon category and moving away from the Luzon landmass, tropical cyclone signals remain hoisted in parts of Luzon and Visayas, causing continued travel disruption.
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) reported that a total of 1,298 people remain stranded in PPA-run ports, including NCR North (116), Batangas (428), MarQuez (65), Bicol (222), Panay-Guimaras (207), Agusan (29), Misamis Oriental (35), and Misamis Occidental/Ozamiz (196).
In Lucena City, the PPA’s Port Management Office Marinduque-Quezon (PMO MarQuez), in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), distributed 52 Ready-To-Eat Food packs to passengers temporarily staying in the designated evacuation area.
One sick passenger experiencing difficulty breathing was given medical attention and brought to the Quezon Medical Center. The PPA urged travelers to coordinate with shipping lines before proceeding to the ports to avoid inconvenience.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard-Iloilo lifted all sea travel bans, clearing fiber boats and RORO vessels to sail again as storm signals were lifted in Guimaras and Iloilo City.
Meantime, rescue teams across Central and Northern Luzon scrambled Monday to clear flood debris and landslides blocking access to critical areas.
The OCD reported 71 roads rendered impassable, with the worst damage concentrated in Aurora, Ilocos Norte, and Pangasinan, where floodwaters reached rooftop levels in some areas.
In Aurora province, the storm’s hardest-hit area, around 4,043 families, or 12,866 individuals, were evacuated from coastal areas and danger zones. Landslides severed access to coastal towns like Dinalungan and Dilasag, trapping residents and complicating relief efforts.
The PRO3’s Reactionary Standby Support Force and OCD teams deployed heavy equipment to clear the Baler-Casiguran Road, which was temporarily closed due to debris and storm surges.
Power outages were recorded in Dinalungan, Casiguran, and Dilasag, and the Provincial Government suspended public transportation going in and out of the province.
In Northern Luzon, Cagayan province reported extensive flooding, power outages and road closures. A total of 21 municipalities, 268 barangays, and over 25,000 individuals were affected, with more than 8,500 families displaced. Bridges in Pamplona, Solana and Sto. Niño remain impassable.
Western Visayas also sustained heavy damage, with over 26,000 residents scrambling for safety. Data from the Office of Civil Defense-6 showed that Capiz took the hardest hit, with 7,700 families affected, followed by Antique (754), Iloilo (440) and Aklan (48).
At least 40 homes were severely damaged. Relief operations are underway, with P224,000 worth of supplies distributed.
In Baguio City, a zero-casualty count was reported, which officials attributed to effective early warning systems and resident obedience.
However, 142 families (583 individuals) were evacuated, and the city reported erosions, fallen trees and disruptions to water, electricity and telecommunications services.
The OCD flagged severe communication disruptions across typhoon-ravaged areas, with cellular and landline services knocked offline in 12 barangays in Aurora. Authorities are urging residents to stay inside their homes, avoid traveling, and listen to official announcements as they continue coordination efforts.