'KAREN WATCH.' PAGASA chief weather forecaster Nathaniel Cruz uses a satellite image to give an update on typhoon 'Karen.' Video taken by INQUIRER.net online videographer Janie Christine Octia.
7 dead, 4,000 affected as Karen triggers landslides, floods By Joel Guinto INQUIRER.net First Posted 07:05:00 08/20/2008
MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE 5) Typhoon "Karen" (international codename: Nuri) lashed the extreme northern provinces Wednesday, triggering landslides and floods that left seven people killed and affected over 4,000, according to government reports.
Landslides and swollen rivers also closed off several roadways and bridges in Northern and Central Luzon, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said.
Three children died after their house was buried in a mudslide in Ucab village, Itogon town, Benguet province. They were identified as one-year-old Mark Anthony Somera, three-year-old Lester Somera, and 10-year-old Alvin Somera, the OCD-Cordillera region said in a report.
In Baguio City, Petra Kadalar, 72, was killed after being hit by an eroded riprap in Purok 7 village, the report said.
In La Union province, Hilario Badungan, 77, was killed in a landslide in Porponket village, Sudipen town, the OCD-Ilocos Region said in a report.
A 50-year-old man, identified as Dionisio Tumamao, was missing after he was carried by strong river currents in Nagrecban village, San Nicolas town, Ilocos Norte province, the report said.
In Benguet province, a landslide buried 37-year-old Arnold Attiw in Natubleng village, Buguias town, Benguet province, the NDCC said.
In Peñarubia town, Abra province, 12-year-old Camille Rasalan was killed after she was hit by a fallen tree.
The NDCC said 4,196 people were affected by floods in the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and La Union.
At 10 p.m., the eye of the storm, which packs maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour, with gusts of up to 170 kilometers per hour, was located 155 kilometers north northwest of Laoag City, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
Moving northwest at 15 kilometers per hour, the storm was forecast to be at 410 kilometers west northwest of Basco town in Batanes province by Thursday evening and 700 kilometers northwest of Basco or 320 kilometers north northeast of Hong Kong by Friday evening, PAGASA said.
Signal number 3 (100-185 kilometer per hour winds) was raised in northern Cagayan, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Batanes, and in the Babuyan and Calayan Islands.
Signal number 2 (60-100 kilometer per hour winds) was raised in the rest of Cagayan, Kalinga, Abra, Ilocos Sur, Mt. Province, Ifugao, Benguet, and La Union.
Signal number 1 (30-60 kilometer per hour winds) was raised in Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pangasinan, and Zambales.
"Typhoon 'Karen' is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rains over Luzon especially in the western section and Western Visayas which may trigger flashfloods and landslides," PAGASA said in its 11 p.m. bulletin.
Residents in coastal areas under signal 2 and 3 were warned against big waves and storm surge.
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