2 dead in northern Luzon due to incessant rains, winds

BAGUIO, Philippines (UPDATED) – Ryan Balanza, a fisherfolk from Santa Cruz, Ilocos Sur, drowned when their boat capsized because of the squall last Thursday, August 9. 

Balanza, 37, of Barangay Pilar, Santa Cruz, left for shore with Ruben Antolin at 9 am Thursday. After a few moments, a huge wave capsized their boat. Antolin was able to hold on to the boat, but Balanza was nowhere to be found. 

In Benguet, a 16-year-old girl died after the truck she rode on fell into a shallow ravine at Camp 3 in Tuba, Benguet, after being pushed by a landslide on Friday, August 9. 

According to reports, the truck was one of those repairing the said mountain road. The girl hitched a ride, but the driver and helpers asked her to ride at the back. Soon after, the truck was pushed into the ravine and laid on its side. Two other helpers were injured. 

Kennon Road remains closed while Halsema Highway, particularly on the Bontoc side, is unstable because of frequent landslides.

Squalls in Abra 

Meanwhile, two squalls hit Abra, destroying houses and orchards. 

On Friday, August 9, two houses in Barangay Labaan in Bucloc town were totally damaged and 4 were partially damaged, affecting 28 families, according to Fernando Balao-as of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Office. 

Early last Saturday, August 10, two huge landslides made the barangay and nearby Ducligan impassable. Three landslides also isolated the barangay of Lingey in Bucloc. The bridge in Poblacion in Sitio Lamao was also partly destroyed.

A tornado hit Barangay Manayday in San Isidro town on Friday, August 9, at 2 pm.

San Isidro officials said that 6 houses belonging to 24 residents were damaged. Also destroyed were their orchards of fruit trees and bananas. – Rappler.com