Maring-enhanced monsoon claims first casualty

MANILA, Philippines – Monsoon rain enhanced by tropical storm Maring (international codename Trami) has recorded its first casualty, the government reported Monday, August 19.

A vehicular accident in Cabugao, Apayao involving a jeepney claimed the life of Franco Pedrito Cawayan, 30, a resident of Besao, Mountain Province, the National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council (NDRRMC) said in its situation report Monday morning.

The jeepney was passing through Sitio Caliat in Brgy Lenneng, and was carrying 50 passengers when the accident happened. Nine people were seriously injured, and the victims were brought to the Connor District Hospital and the Tuguegarao Hospital for treatment.

Two people are also missing:

• Rosalino Calantay, 30, missing while crossing the Damangil River in Brgy Amtuagan, Tubo, Abra
• Monching Bakidan, 20, missing after he tried crossing the Chico River at Sitio Pampang, Brg Samoki, Bontoc, Mountain Province

The NDRRMC said a total of 559 families (2,588 people) are affected in regions I, II, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

Regions I to IV-A reported incidents of flooding overnight, specifically in the provinces of:

• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• Pampanga
• Bataan
• Zambales
• Rizal
• Laguna
• Cavite

Several landslide incidents were reported, all in CAR:

• Landslides along the Pidigan-San Isidro Road in Abra, forcing road closures
• Landslide incident in at Brgy Pakiling, Layugan in Bucay, Abra
• Landslide near Sinalang River, damaging 2 houses at Sitio Dalnetan, Brgy Agtangao, in Bangued, Abra

A total of 28 roads are also affected by the heavy monsoon rain, the agency reported.

The Blue Alert Level status has been put in place by the NDRRMC and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) since Saturday, August 17. – Rappler.com