MANILA (October 30, 2018) —Typhoon Yutu (locally known as Rosita) made landfall in Dinapigue, Isabela, Philippines at 4 a.m. on Tuesday. It then passed through several provinces in the northern part of the country. The typhoon is moving slightly slower to the west at about 12 miles per hour from the previous 15 miles per hour. The typhoon continues to have maximum winds of 87 miles per hour and gustiness of up to 143 miles per hour.
Communities hit by typhoon Yutu in Isabela and Aurora provinces experienced strong winds and heavy rains. The country’s weather bureau, PAGASA, warned that flash floods and landslides are still possible in areas in the typhoon’s path.
“It is very unfortunate that another strong typhoon has hit the country especially for those who also bore the brunt of typhoon Mangkhut last month,” said Tess Bayombong, acting country director of CARE Philippines. “Communities in the mountainous areas in the Cordillera region remain to be vulnerable as they haven’t fully recovered yet from the devastating landslides because of Mangkhut,” she added.
CARE has activated its emergency response team and is closely coordinating with local partners Cordillera Disaster Response and Development Services (Cordis RDS) and Cagayan Valley Disaster Response Center for immediate response.
The Philippines government and humanitarian organizations are now planning for a damage and needs assessment in the affected areas. CARE is preparing for an assessment and immediate relief support in mountainous communities of Benguet province with its local partner Cordis RDS.
CARE has worked in the Philippines since 1949, providing emergency relief when disaster strikes and helping communities prepare for disasters. CARE specializes in providing life-saving assistance with focus on women and girls.
ABOUT CARE
Founded in 1945, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE has more than seven decades of experience helping people prepare for disasters, providing lifesaving assistance when a crisis hits, and helping communities recover after the emergency has passed. CARE places special focus on women and children who are often disproportionately affected by disasters. Last year, CARE worked in 94 counties to reach 80 million people, including more than 11 million through emergency response and humanitarian aid.
Media Contact: Nicole Harris, nharris@care.org 404-735-0871