UAE residents from the Philippines are fearful for the well-being of relatives and friends in the path of the one of the year’s strongest typhoons that threatened the northern region of their country on Tuesday evening.
Super Typhoon Ragasa battered parts of Luzon Island and whipped up winds of more than 260kph, according to the Philippines’ meteorological department.
Ragasa has left a trail of destruction, killing three people and displacing thousands as it passes the south of Taiwan, Hong Kong and moves towards southern mainland China.
A super typhoon is equal to a Category 5 hurricane. The Philippines has issued storm surge warnings as it approached and the China meteorological agency has described Ragasa as the “king of storms”.
UAE residents have been urging their families in areas inundated with flooding, high winds and heavy rainfall to move to safety.
“My main worry is my late sister’s three children, who live on Luzon,” Albert Sabado, an Abu Dhabi resident who runs a printing business in the UAE.
“I have spoken to them and told them to stay safe, to move to a high place. They said the winds were too strong and there was very heavy rain. Now, we can just wait and pray for their safety.”
Heed evacuation warnings
Tens of thousands of people have been moved to safety and local authorities have warned of landslides and torrential rain in northern Luzon. More than 10,000 people were evacuated across the north and centre of the island and the administration urged residents to heed evacuation warnings.
Mr Sabado knows only too well the devastation caused by storms. He was at home in Quezon City, north of Manila, in July last year when torrential rain created floods that paralysed large parts of the country.
“I know how hard it is to rebuild. The floods takes minutes to come in to your home but you will spend years managing the damage,” he said.
When the flood waters entered his home last year, Mr Sabado and his children hauled a sofa and television to the upper floors but appliances and furniture on the lower level were ruined by waist-deep floodwater.
“I have told my wife and family not to try to save appliances and furniture this time but just to leave the house,” Mr Sabado said.
“Those are only material things. But I need them to survive – their lives are more important. I’ve told them they need to run away because once the water comes in, it moves quickly.
“Last year, people tried to come to rescue us but the current in our street was too fast. We were lucky the water levels went down after a day, but this time I don’t want my family taking any chances.”
UAE community volunteer Mariel Papa, too, is worried about family in Cavite, north of Manila.
“The heavy rains caused a leak in the roof of our house that was getting bigger every minute, but my cousin has managed to seal it for now,” she said.
“There is so much flooding and rain that there is no way to properly to repair this. My family is fine for now, and I can only pray that they and others will remain safe.”
Schools and government offices shut
The government ordered schools and educational institutions in Manila and the northern Luzon area to close, while flights were suspended and ferries kept in port.
Alfonso A Ver, Philippines ambassador to the UAE, told The National his country was deeply grateful for the assistance and solidarity that UAE always provided.
The Emirates Red Crescent on Monday said it delivered essential food supplies, health kits, shelter material, clean drinking water, hygiene products and was ready to expand operations.
“The ERC has intensified its humanitarian response to support those affected by the devastating floods that recently swept through several provinces and regions in the Philippines,” the authority said in a statement on state news agency Wam.
The typhoon made landfall a day after thousands across the Philippines marched to condemn what they regard as widespread corruption and trillions of pesos spent on non-existent flood control projects.
The typhoon is expected to sweep south of Hong Kong and Macao and China’s meteorological centre has said it is likely to make landfall in Guangdong province on Wednesday.
Super Typhoon Ragasa hits Asia – in pictures
