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Sarika destroys remaining house in Agrihan
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Posted on Sep 07 2004
Tropical storm Sarika destroyed the last home that remained standing in Agrihan after supertyphoon Songda wrought havoc in the Northern Islands.
“The only house left standing after Songda is no longer there,” said Jenn Castro, public information officer at the Emergency Operations Center.
She said there were no casualties reported from Agrihan, Alamagan, and Pagan when the storm struck the three islands with powerful winds and heavy rainfall, just days after they incurred severe damage from Songda.
The shipment of food and other relief supplies to the three northern islands managed to leave Saipan yesterday morning. Castro said the team would first head to Alamagan, and then Pagan, before Agrihan.
The shipment, freighted by the M/V Tenshou II, included food, water, tents, tarps, cots, and blankets, among others.
The boat headed to the islands last Saturday, but it had to detour back to Saipan when Sarika approached the Northern islands. The boat arrived on Saipan late Sunday night.
Last Friday, though, the EMO brought food and water to Alamagan and Agrihan to augment depleted stocks that would only last up to a week.
Castro said Gov. Juan N. Babauta would visit the three northern islands this week. Some 36 people reportedly reside on these islands—13 on Agrihan, 12 on Alamagan, and 11 on Pagan.
Castro earlier said Songda totally destroyed two houses and blew away roofs of two other houses on Alamagan and Agrihan, destroyed two houses and damaged a boat on Pagan and completely wiped out the three islands’ crops. (John Ravelo)
