The Ilocos Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) has issued urgent directives to local disaster management offices across the region to take immediate action against potential storm surges triggered by Severe Tropical Storm Nika. On Sunday, the council emphasized the need for preemptive evacuations in high-risk areas to safeguard residents.
Laurence Mina, the Director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) – Ilocos and chair of the RDRRMC, underscored the necessity of these measures in a memorandum. The OCD also released Storm Surge Warning No. 4, indicating a moderate to high risk of storm surges within the next 48 hours, particularly affecting low-lying coastal communities.
The warning highlighted the risk of inundation from rising sea levels and high waves in several municipalities. In Ilocos Norte, areas such as Bacarra, Badoc, Currimao, Laoag City, Paoay, and Pasuquin are at risk of experiencing storm surges of one to two meters. Similarly, in Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan, numerous towns and cities face similar threats.
Notably, Bangui, Burgos, and Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte are expected to see even higher surges, potentially reaching 2.1 to 3 meters. In response to the impending storm, both La Union and Pangasinan have suspended classes at all levels in public and private schools on Monday.
The southern part of Ilocos Norte, along with Ilocos Sur, La Union, and parts of Pangasinan, Aurora, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, and Nueva Ecija, are currently under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2. Meanwhile, other regions including the rest of Cagayan, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan, Aurora, Tarlac, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and parts of Albay are under Signal No. 1.