At least 1 dead in Cagayan, several towns flooded due to Maring

At least one person has died due to drowning in the town of Claveria while several towns are flooded in Cagayan, caused by heavy rain from severe tropical storm Maring as of Tuesday, October 12.

There are a total of 52 barangays affected by the heavy flooding, with 1,752 families, or 7,116 residents, preemptively evacuated, based on the latest situational report of the Cagayan provincial information office (PIO) on October 11, 8 pm.

Rescue operations by the Task Force Lingkod Cagayan, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine National Police are still ongoing and in full swing, particularly in the towns of Calaoagan Bassit in Gattaran and in the towns of Buguey and Sta. Teresita. Residents were asked to move to higher ground while others were evacuated at a nearby church.

Classes in the entire province are also suspended.

Transmission lines for electricity are still unavailable in the towns of Lal-lo and Tuguegarao under Cagayan Electric Cooperative (CAGELCO) I and II respectively, while Labrador-Malasiqui, Bacnotan-Bulala, Bauang San-Fabian under Central Pangasinan Electric Cooperative (CENPELCO) and La Union Electric Cooperative (LUELCO) transmission lines have been restored. The inspection and restoration of lines in the affected areas will be undertaken as soon as the weather allows.

Cagayan PIO added the loss of power may be caused by affected transmission facilities of NGCP or distribution facilities of local distribution utilities or electric cooperatives. Specific cities and municipalities affected by the power interruptions are determined by concerned Distribution Utilities, unless the outage affects the entire franchise area.

Meanwhile, the Capatan overflow bridge in Tuguegarao is passable to all types of vehicles while the Pinacanauan overflow bridge is already passable to single motor vehicles as of 6 am.

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development through the Provincial Tourism Office is also conducting relief operations to some 200 residents at Barangay Aridowen in Sta. Teresita by giving free hot meals through its PGC Hot Meals on Wheels program. The mobile kitchen also has a charging station for mobile phones for residents to use for free. –Rappler.com

Joann Manabat is a Luzon-based journalist and an awardee of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship.