227 families evacuated in La Union as Typhoon Kristine approaches

Authorities in the Ilocos Region ordered the pre-emptive evacuation of residents from flood- and landslide-prone areas ahead of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.

A total of 227 families, or 617 individuals, were evacuated from Barangay Mindoro in Bangar, La Union to local schools and gyms for safety, while an additional 364 families (1,112 individuals) have been pre-emptively evacuated since Wednesday across Ilocos Norte.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region I is advocating early evacuation to save lives as the typhoon affects a wide area in Luzon, particularly emphasizing the vulnerability of senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and children.

Based on rainfall thresholds, 1,929 villages across four provinces in the region are identified as prone to flooding and landslides, including 527 in La Union and nearly all of Pangasinan's 1,364 barangays.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development has prepared over 93,000 family food packs and nearly 17,000 non-food items for typhoon victims, with local government units (LGUs) leading the response efforts.

All national roads remain passable except for a temporary closure on Manila North Road in Pagudpud due to landslide risks. Additionally, an old acacia tree fell on a Toyota Altis parked between a village hall and an irrigation canal in Barangay 7-B in Laoag City due to strong winds from the typhoon.