By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
Carina (Gaemi), which intensified into a super typhoon on Wednesday afternoon, July 24, affected 149 families or 409 individuals in Iloilo City.
The affected families are from coastal and low-lying areas, including Barangays Boulevard, San Juan, and Calumpang in the Molo district; Barangays Ma. Clara and Ortiz in the City Proper; Barangays Calaparan, Sto. Niño Sur, Sto. Niño Norte, and Sta. Cruz in Arevalo; and Barangays Calubihan and Desamparados in Jaro.
Some families sought shelter at Baluarte Elementary School, Desamparados Market, and their respective village halls, according to the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
The Iloilo City Emergency Operations Center reported that Carina destroyed at least 59 houses, with 19 completely destroyed and 40 partially damaged.
Among the hardest-hit areas was Barangay Boulevard in Molo, where 38 families saw their homes destroyed.
Since the weekend, the southwest monsoon or habagat, enhanced by Carina, brought strong gale-force gusts in coastal areas of Western Visayas.
On Sunday afternoon, July 21, the city government ordered the preemptive evacuation of households located in 10 coastal villages in the City Proper, Molo, and Arevalo districts.
The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council explained that the identified areas are typically evacuated during the monsoon season due to their high risk of extreme tidal events.
The city government said the affected families will receive financial assistance of P10,000 for those with completely destroyed homes and P7,000 for those with partially damaged homes.