By Leilanie Adriano | November 8, 2024

LAOAG CITY – Authorities are monitoring oil leaks from two foreign vessels that ran aground in the Currimao shoreline early Friday because of strong waves and wind brought by Typhoon Marce (international name Yinxing)

MV Aries 1 and LCT PanPhil 8 were anchored at the Currimao port but were dragged to shallow waters, Lt. Joseph Christian Sagun, station commander of the Philippine Coast Guard Ilocos Norte, said in a phone interview.

Sagun said both vessels are from China but have all-Filipino crews.

MV Aries 1, with five crew members, has been at the Currimao port for five months already.

LCT PanPhil 8, with 15 crew members, arrived at Currimao port last week. 

“They are docked at the Currimao port while waiting for the processing of their certificates for conversion as domestic trader from MARINA (Maritime Industry Authority),” he said.

Sagun said the crew of MV Aries 1 attempted to relocate the vessel from its previous position at about 1:30 a.m. but the engine shut down, dragging them to the shoreline of Barangay Victoria.

Meanwhile, the anchor of LCT PanPhil was also pulled out at the height of Typhoon Marce, the strong waves and wind hauling the vessel to the Barangay Gaang shoreline.

The Currimao local government has checked on the crew members, who requested for bottled water. 

TYPHOON IMPACT. One of the two Chinese vessels that ran aground at the shore of Currimao, Ilocos Norte on Friday (Nov. 8, 2024) due to to strong winds and waves caused by Typhoon Marce (international name Yinxing). Both vessels are processing their conversion as domestic traders. (Photo courtesy of Currimao LGU)

‘MARCE’ EVACUATION: 123 families in La Union, Pangasinan

Meanwhile, a total of 105 families or 257 individuals in Bangar town, La Union, and 18 families in San Fabian town, Pangasinan evacuated from their homes Thursday night as a preemptive measure on the possible effects of Typhoon Marce (international name Yinxing).

The La Union Provincial Information Office (PIO) told the Philippine News Agency on Friday that the evacuees, who have been provided with food packs, are from Barangay Mindor, Bangar and are staying at the town’s covered court.

“The residents evacuated since the area is a small island and if the river overflows, it will be harder to rescue them, hence the preemptive evacuation,” the PIO said. 

On the other hand, Pangasinan Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office operations and training head Vincent Chiu said the 18 families from San Fabian town will be sent home once weather permits.

“They were assisted by the local government unit of San Fabian with their needs while at the evacuation center. We continue to monitor,” he said in an interview. 

Both provinces are on red alert status and prepositioned rescuers, vehicles, and equipment are still on standby.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has prepared 28,787 family food packs worth PHP20.6 million and 14,944 non-food items worth PHP37.3 million as augmentation for relief operations to Ilocos Region residents affected by Marce. 

DSWD data show that of the total prepositioned stockpile, 2,818 family food packs and 11,053 non-food items are in La Union, and 3,864 family food packs and 806 non-food items are in Pangasinan as of Nov. 7.

The northern and central parts of Pangasinan and La Union province are still under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 as of posting time. — With Hilda Austria in Malasiqui, Pangasinan