It looked like a beast hiding in the dark.
This is how the Ivatan people described the onslaught of Typhoon Leon in the province of Batanes last night, October 31, as its eye approached the province.
At the break of dawn, the damage caused by the storm became visible.
In the town of Basco, several roads were impassable due to landslides; some trees appeared to have lost all their leaves.
In the town of Itbayat, the storm destroyed the Santa Maria de Mayan Church, one of the oldest churches in the town.
In the town of Ivana, several authorities braved the strong gusts of wind and rain to clear some fallen rocks from the road.
Several houses were also damaged in the town of Uyugan.
Representatives from the MDRRMO inspected the storm’s damage.
In the town of Sabtang, some houses were damaged.
Several roads were impassable due to flooding and landslides.
According to data from the Batanes Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, 545 families or more than 1,500 residents evacuated due to the typhoon’s onslaught.
The total damage caused by the storm in the province is still being assessed.
**CHARLES NIKKO LIMON
