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Philippines: Typhoon Usagi (local name Odette) - OCHA Flash Update, 23 September 2013

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Philippines
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Typhoon Usagi (known locally as Odette) struck land on Saturday morning in the southern part of the Itbayat Island, one of the three main islands of the Batanes group of islands. It is now out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility and moving west northwest in the general direction of Hong Kong and Macau.

Itbayat, accustomed to typhoons was relatively well prepared despite Usagi being the strongest typhoon to hit the area in 25 years. According to National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) just two deaths were reported. However, there were uprooted trees, with devastating damage to crops and homes destroyed. Recent reports from the governor indicate that power lines were damaged resulting in many areas without electricity. Water distribution pipes are also reportedly damaged.

There were 10,406 families (47,914 people) affected in Regions I, II, III, IV-B, V, VI and CAR according to the NDRRMC with more than 6,095 families (27,071 people) displaced, mostly outside evacuation centres.

Flooding persists in the provinces of Bataan, Zamabales and Pamapanga provinces with continuous heavy rain brought on by the monsoons. The 6-feet high floodwater in the municipalities of Hermosta, Dinalupihan and Samat in Bataan is slowly receding. In Zamabales, search and rescue teams responded to three reported landslides in Cawag and San Isidro barangays (villages), in Subic Zamabales and barangay Aglao, San Macelino, Zamabales according to Office of Civil Defense and NDRRMC.

Flooding occurred in four barangays in Ilocos Norte; seven barangays in Dagupan city, Pangasinan; barangay Salomague in Paniqui, Tarlac; eight coastal barangays in Sta. Cruz, Laguna; two barangays in Sablayan and two in Abrade Ilog, Minodoro Occidental. On Sunday flooding subsided in Dagupan city, Pangasinan and Sablayan municipality Indoro Occidetal.

While the damage to agriculture was severe, many houses are constructed of stone and less likely to suffer typhoon damage. In addition, the population is relatively small at around 60 – 70,000 and many of the Batanes residents travel to the mainland for work, so absent when the typhoon struck.

A C130 flight left Manila today and the NDRRMC Director flew to Batanes to assess the extent of the damage brought by Usagi. WFP is responding to a request for logistical support from the Government.

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