Isolated families rescued, storm surge ruins homes

  • Due to monsoon fury in Pasuquin coastal area
  • Pasuquin town declared under state of calamity

Tropical storms Gorio (Nesat) and Huaning (Haitang) hit the country including Northern Luzon over the weekend bringing heavy rains, floodwater, and landslide in some areas.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Administration, said that the inclement weather further intensified due to the southwest monsoon that affected the western section of Northern and Central Luzon.

In Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) said many residents of Sitio Bungro, Brgy. Pragata, were isolated due to the sudden rise of water coming both from the sea and river.

Brgy. Chairwoman Jessie Langaman said the Bungro hanging bridge connecting to the opposite higher ground was declared impassable due to the swollen river prompting the MDRRMC to conduct an emergency rescue operation on Saturday night, July 29.

She reported that about 10 families from the said area were evacuated by combined elements of the police, Coast Guard, and Bureau of Fire Protection.

Still, in Pasuquin town, about 10 houses were reported totally damaged and 17 other houses were partially damaged when a storm surge hit the coastal sitio of Dirique, Brgy. Davila.

Some150 fishing boats were also destroyed by the storm surge which occurred at about 11 p.m. of Saturday.

Pasuquin Vice Mayor Pedro Rex Aguinaldo said that the town council immediately convened a special session to declare the municipality under the state of calamity.

It is the quickest way to release the calamity funds to buy relief goods for the calamity victims, to finance the repair work of destroyed government infrastructure projects and to extend financial help to the disaster-affected farmers, he added.

Authorities reported that two individuals suffered injuries during the strong wind. A certain Randy Baay was nearly electrocuted while Danilo Rafol was hit by a fallen tree. Both are recuperating in the hospital.

In Laoag City, 4-year-old Antonio Barcena IV reportedly drowned in a swollen irrigation canal in Brgy. 27 here.

Investigators said that the victim and playmates went strolling under drizzle near the irrigation canal when the boy accidentally fell into the canal and drowned.

In Batac City, two families were evacuated to the city hall when their houses submerged under water.

Some areas around the province also experienced blackout due to toppled electric posts.

Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) linemen were immediately dispatched to conduct emergency repair to restore all affected power lines.

At presstime, total damages in agricultural crops were not yet determined.

Typhoon Gorio left the Philippine area of responsibility on Sunday while tropical storm Huaning exited the following morning.(Tri-Media report)