Flood, slides hit Northern Luzon

ROAD BLOCKA section of a road at Barangay Pasaleng in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, is rendered impassable by a landslide. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

BAGUIO CITY, Benguet, Philippines — Even before Tropical Depression “Quiel” entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Tuesday morning, torrential rains already spawned flood that hit parts of northern Luzon.

The heavy and continuous downpour experienced in the provinces of Ilocos Norte and Cagayan was enhanced by the frontal system, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Knee-deep floodwater submerged houses in the coastal village of Saud in Pagudpud town, Ilocos Norte, according to the municipal disaster risk reduction and management council.

Rain-induced landslides caused road closures in the villages of Pasaleng and Pancian, also in Pagudpud.

Pagudpud Mayor Rafael Ralph Benemerito II suspended classes in all levels in both private and public schools due to the heavy downpour.

In Cagayan, the towns of Sta. Praxedes, Sanchez Mira and Claveria also experienced scattered rainshowers that triggered floods and landslides.

Local disaster officials said the rain forced class suspension in Sanchez Mira and road closure of the San Joaquin Sinking Road at Barangay Kilkiling-Mabnang in Claveria.

At 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Quiel entered PAR and its center was located 540 kilometers west southwest of Iba town, Zambales province. It is packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 55 kph.

The weather disturbance is moving east northeast at 10 kph, Pagasa said.

It said Quiel may intensify into a tropical storm within the next 24 hours but is less likely to make a landfall.

The tropical depression and the frontal system are expected to dump moderate to occasional heavy rain over northern Luzon, Zambales and Bataan. —Inquirer Northern Luzon