SOLSONA, Ilocos Norte – A team of rescuers and relief workers braved the raging waters and muddy roads to reach the isolated residents of Barangay Nalasin and Sitio Lipay in Solsona, Ilocos Norte, who were affected by the onslaught of typhoons Goring and Hanna.

The team, composed of members from the 144th Special Action Company of the Special Action Force, led by Police Captain Ronn Lee Talite, the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office, led by Police Colonel Julius C. Suriben, the Bureau of Fire Protection of Solsona, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), and the Philippine Marines from the 4th Marine Brigade, successfully crossed rivers and flooded communities to conduct relief operation on Monday, September 1.

The team distributed food packs, water bottles, hygiene kits, and other essential items to the residents of Barangay Nalasin and Sitio Lipay, who have been cut off from the rest of the town for nearly a week due to the continuous rainfall brought by the typhoons.

According to MDRRMO officer-in-charge Rodelio B. Agustin, the team also conducted rapid damage assessment and needs analysis (RDANA) to determine the extent of the damage and the needs of the affected residents.

He said that the team found out that some houses were partially damaged by landslides and floods, while some crops were totally destroyed. He added that some residents also suffered from minor injuries and illnesses due to the lack of access to health services.

Agustin said that the team coordinated with the local government unit (LGU) of Solsona and the provincial government of Ilocos Norte to provide further assistance to the residents.

He also thanked the various agencies and organizations that joined and supported the relief operation.

“We are very grateful to our partners from the PNP-SAF, PNP-INPPO, BFP-Solsona, Philippine Marines, and other volunteers who helped us reach our fellow Solsonenos who were in dire need of help. We also appreciate the generosity and cooperation of our LGU and provincial government for providing us with the necessary resources and support. Together, we can overcome this calamity and rebuild our lives,” he said.

Typhoons Goring and Hanna battered northern Luzon in late August and early September, causing heavy rains, strong winds, floods, landslides, and storm surges in several areas.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), as of Friday, September 5, a total of 387,242 people or 106,677 families were affected by Goring and Hanna in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley Region, Central Luzon Region, Calabarzon Region, Mimaropa Region, Western Visayas Region, and Cordillera Administrative Region.

The NDRRMC also reported one death due to drowning in Pangasinan Province.

The agency said that Goring exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday night, August 30, while Hanna left on Friday morning, September 3.

However, both typhoons continued to enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat, which brought more rains over Luzon and Visayas.

PAGASA said that Hanna intensified into a severe tropical storm as it entered PAR on Wednesday night, while Goring became a super typhoon as it headed for West Philippine Sea on Wednesday morning.