DUBAI: With most power and communication lines still down in much of Northern Luzon, overseas Filipino workers (OWFs) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who hail from the towns in this region hardest hit by super typhoon Mangkhut (Ompong), are wary about what have happened to their loved ones, saying the last contact they had was Friday evening, hours before the category 5 weather disturbance made landfall.
The OFWs have also formed group chats to get everyone abreast with developments back home as what they always do whenever calamities hit the Philippines.
“Sa Baguio, naglandslide sa itaas na bahay namin sa Woodgate (Subdivision),” said Amor Echague, medical claims supervisor in Dubai. “First time umabot ang tubig sa bahay. Sobrang lakas ng hangin at ulan. Pati kalsada sarado dahil sa mga puno” he said, adding that “Tumawag ako pero saglit lang kasi low batt na sila; nagpunta sila sa mall para maki-charge.”
“Nadale ni Ompong ang bayan naming Buguey (in Cagayan). Nadale kalahate ng house ko,” said a certain Tong Mabalot who posted pictures of the devastation in the group chat.
“Last contact ko sa kanila was Friday din po,” said Cathy Mae Arconado Valencia who works in Abu Dhabi and is from Narvacan, Ilocos Sur.
The Philippine government has reported at least 25 casualties in the wake of Typhoon Ompong that hit Northern and Central Luzon.
In an interview with CNN Philippines, Presidential Political Affairs Adviser and Ompong point person Francis Tolentino said that most of the casualties are caused by landslides in the Cordillera region.
Earlier, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said that at least 20 casualties have been reported in the Cordillera region alone – seven from Benguet, six from Baguio, six from Mountain Province, and one from Kalinga.
On top of this, 13 people are still missing while 20 others sustained injuries.
As of 11 am, September 16, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that at least 250,000 people were affected by Ompong, dubbed as the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced on Saturday, September 15, that Ompong has exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility and is expected to hit Hong Kong and China next.
