Senator Richard Gordon, who chairs the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), said Monday that Super Typhoon “Rolly” destroyed at least 80% of houses in three Catanduanes towns.
Citing reports from PRC personnel on the ground, Gordon said that the full extent of Rolly’s damage could not be determined so far since most communication lines in the island province have also been damaged.
“11 bayan kasi diyan (sa Catanduanes). Doon sa tatlong bayan, ang nahagilap nung tatlong tao namin na nakamotorsiklo, visual lang ito, mga 80% ang damaged sa mga bahay. Maraming mga bahay ang nasira talaga, kaya magpapadala kami ng tarpaulin at mga yero at baka magkasakit ang mga tao. Papa-swab rin namin (for COVID-19) kung may flu,” said Gordon in an interview.
“Mayroon kaming satellite phone, pero wala pang internet (connection). Tatlong bayan pa lang ang nakikita namin kaya sana iyong ibang bayan hindi naman inabot ng daluyong,” added Gordon, who also bared that Catanduanes’ capital of Virac was heavily devastated, including hospitals and supermarkets there.
On Sunday morning, Rolly reached a super typhoon level bringing catastrophic winds and dumping heavy rains that flooded villages and sent thousands of people fleeing their homes. Several missing persons and a lack of oil supply have also been reported.