Typhoon Ofel makes landfall in Cagayan, forced evacuations underway

Typhoon Ofel has made landfall in Cagayan, prompting local authorities to implement forced evacuations in vulnerable areas.

In Santa Ana, Cagayan, Mayor Nelson Robinion issued Executive Order No. 45-2024, mobilizing police and village officials to transport residents from Barangay Casambalangan due to a storm surge warning.

This executive order covers all Santa Ana residents in areas prone to flooding, landslides, and other typhoon-related hazards, with designated evacuation centers now open.

While most of Tuguegarao City remains flooded, City Mayor Maila Rosario Ting-Que urged residents in low-lying areas to evacuate, assuring them of available space and food.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is also preparing additional food packs for delivery to evacuation centers.

Previously, nearly 5,000 families had already sought shelter in evacuation centers across Cagayan, with some centers becoming overcrowded.