Thousands affected, 2 dead amid Ilocos rains

CAGAYAN VALLEY, Philippines (UPDATED) – Two were reported dead in Ilocos Sur as heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon (habagat) continue to pour in the Ilocos and Cordillera regions.

Ilocos Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council Coordinator John Lorde confirmed that two, both male, were reported dead in different incidents.

In Candon City, a Singaporean-flagged vessel ran aground off the shores on Friday, July 17. One of its crew members was killed.

Lorde told Rappler though a phone interview that its 21 crew members, all Filipinos, were rescued, but Chief Officer Henry Liboon reportedly died of a heart attack while the vessel was in trouble.

The cargo vessel, identified as MV Alam Manis, was set to transport nickel ore to China.

A report of the Ilocos Region Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) on Saturday, July 18, said a Singaporean tugboat identified as MT Salvis Count came to rescue its crew.

The seacraft, according to Lorde, came from Dinagat Island in Surigao province.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said there are no signs of oil spill around the distressed vessel but they already placed oil spill boom equipment “to prevent possibility of such incident.”

“The survivors and casualty were transported to Poro Point, San Fernando, La Union as per instruction of LTJG Marwin Del Rosario, CGS (Coast Guard Station) Salomague Commander. Accordingly, their families were awaiting their arrival thereat,” PCG said.

Meanwhile, a drunken man drowned in Tay-ac village in Bantay, Ilocos Sur after falling off an irrigation canal.

Lorde identified the second casualty as Herminigildo Madriaga.

Madriaga was reportedly missing on Thursday, July 16, and was only found morning the next day.

Thousands affected

Around 45 villages in 3 provinces of the Ilocos region have been submerged in floods due to heavy rains caused by the southwest monsoon, the OCD said Saturday.

As of 8 am, the OCD in the region said 1,006 families or 3,586 individuals are affected by flash floods and landslides in Pangasinan, La Union, and Ilocos Sur.

The affected families are from Bauang and Santo Tomas towns and San Fernando City in La Union province, Bugallon town in Pangasinan, and Santa Cruz town in Ilocos Sur.

Floods as high as 4 feet (1.22 meters) were reported in 3 towns in Pangasinan, 4 towns and one city in La Union, and two towns in Ilocos Sur.

In Mangatarem town in Pangasinan, 11 villages were submerged in about two feet of floodwater after a creek overflowed, affecting up to 195 families were affected there.

OCD Director Melchito Castro said more villages reported floods overnight. These floods subsided early Saturday morning.

On Friday, the OCD placed the whole Ilocos region on red alert due to continuous heavy rains.

Roads, bridges not passable

Because of the rains, several roads are also not passable for both heavy and light vehicles.

The road to and from Sitio Kasintak, Longos in Calasiao, Pangasinan, remains impassable due to isolated floodwater.

Five villages in Bacnotan town in La Union are also not passable to light vehicles. Cabuggao bridge was reportedly partially damaged, while the Guinabang hanging bridge was totally damaged.

The Sinocalan and Padilla bridges in Pangasinan are also not passable due to ongoing rehabilitation.

Castro said 7 villages in the region also reported landslides, prompting heavy traffic and closure of roads.

State of calamity

Two towns already declared a state of calamity to allow fund releases for rescue and relief operations.

Santa Cruz town in Ilocos Sur has been under state of calamity since Thursday. It was followed by Bani town in Pangasinan on Friday.

The PDRRMC of Pangasinan reported that it has already provided relief assistance to 600 families in Bani.

The regional disaster agency said it is still assessing the extent of damaged to agriculture.

“[We already] requested all PDRRMCs and RDRRMC member – agencies to be on standby for possible rescue, relief, and other response operations relative to the present weather disturbance,” Castro said. – Rappler.com