Super Typhoon Maysak (Photo : Twitter/@AstroSamantha)
Local government units in the Philippine provinces of Aurora and Isabela are bracing for Typhoon Maysak despite its weakening, for these provinces lie in the path of storm.
The government in tourist surf town Baler, Aurora has been busy since April 1, Wednesday, preparing the small coastal town for the probable worst-case scenario. It is predicted that the storm will make its landfall on April 5, Sunday.
Normally, the beaches in Baler would be packed with tourists and surfers during the Easter break. However, since storm signals have been raised throughout the week, the beaches remained empty until the eye of the typhoon has passed.
Fishermen have also been advised not to sail and the tourists have been notified as well to stop all water-based activities.
Channel News Asia reports that a rescue response team of around 100 people have been dispersed and are going around the high-risk coastal communities to evacuate the residents. According to The Guardian, around 24,000 were evacuated including 4,000 households. However, the evacuation process has been met with some resistance by the locals.
Isabaler Barangay Captain Josa Amatorio said that the reason as to why the residents do not want to leave their homes is that they see that the waves right now are high and it will still be low tide even after the storm strikes.
"More than that, what they're worrying about is the house they are going to leave behind. No one is securing it so they might get robbed. That's one of the biggest reasons why they don't want to leave," Amatorio explained.
Meanwhile, the Aurora Provincial Government the vacationers were given until Good Friday to leave Baler. So far, there has been complete compliance.
Tourist Jefferson Mendoza said that before they got to the province, there were no warnings regarding the typhoon yet. When the storm warning came, the local government of Aurora passed on an instruction that the tourists are given up until Friday only.
The Philippines had gone through a number of typhoons in the course of its history, however, it is rather rare that typhoons arrive this early since it is supposed to be in the peak of its summer season.
