By Leilanie Adriano / Philippine News Agency
Strong winds and heavy rains brought about by severe tropical storm ‘Maring’ have left over P220 million worth of initial damage, the Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) reported Friday.
Based on its report, the PDRRMC said the biggest damage was recorded on agriculture, which accounts for P61 million, particularly on rice crops.
“Strong winds hit rice crops that are still under flowering and fruiting stage while some high-value crops were submerged in floodwater,” said Marcel Tabije, head of the PDRRMC.
Due to heavy rains, several landslides were reported along the Nueva Era-Abra road as well as the Ilocos Norte-Apayao road in Barangay Maan-anteng, Solsona town.
Except for a drowning incident that cost the life of a woman in Barangay Nagrebcan, Badoc, Ilocos Norte when she was accidentally swept away by a strong river current, no other typhoon-related casualty was reported in the province.
Meanwhile, neighboring Ilocos Sur province sustained around P580 million worth of damage to agriculture and infrastructure.
Among the hardest hit are the coastal towns of Sta. Maria, Sta. Cruz, and Sta. Lucia due to massive flooding, affecting 7,053 farmers and 3,467 hectares of farmland planted to rice, corn, and other high-value crops.
Damage to infrastructure has reached P432 million, according to the latest report. (PNA) -rir
