Floods submerge 3 bridges, farms in Cagayan Valley

OVER THE BRIDGE A fishing boat crosses over the Cabiseria 8 bridge, which is submerged by floodwaters in Ilagan City following strong, incessant rains in Isabela province. —VILLAMOR VISAYA JR.

CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela, Philippines — Three overflow bridges and low-lying farms in Isabela and Cagayan were submerged in floodwater on Sunday as the tail end of a cold front brought strong rain to the provinces over the weekend.

Incessant rains have so far claimed five lives in Cagayan. One person has been reported missing.

The Cabiseria 8 and Baculod bridges have been closed to traffic due to the swollen Cagayan, Magat and Pinacanauan rivers, and their tributaries.

Impassable

Disaster response officials in the region said water level at the Cagayan River below the Buntun Bridge in Tuguegarao, capital city of Cagayan province, rose to 6.16 meters.

Floods rendered impassable the Alicaocao Bridge in Cauayan City in Isabela, threatened lower sections of its 89 villages, and obstructed roads in Barangays Aggasian and Fugu in the provincial capital of Ilagan, according to Paul Bacungan, Ilagan information officer.

Water level at Magat Dam has been rising steadily because of the heavy downpour recorded in Isabela and Quirino provinces, said Carlo Ablan, chief of the National Irrigation Administration-Magat Dam flood forecasting division.

As of Sunday, Magat’s reservoir level was 190.79 meters above sea level, but there was no need to open the dam’s floodgates.

Zero visibility forced Cebu Pacific flights bound for Tuguegarao Airport to turn back, while trips to Batanes province were canceled, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

The weather bureau was monitoring Severe Tropical Storm “Nakri,” which remained outside the Philippine area of responsibility as of Sunday afternoon.

Rainy weather in Metro Manila

Previously known locally as “Quiel,” it was seen 400 kilometers west-northwest of southern Luzon. It packed maximum sustained winds of 85 km per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph.

Rainy weather will prevail over Metro Manila and provinces in northern and Central Luzon on Monday due to the tail end of the cold front, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Sunday.

Cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms will prevail in Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Bicol Region.

Rizal and Quezon provinces will have similar weather.

As floods persist in Cagayan, initial reports pegged crop damage in 14 northern towns at P285 million, but that figure may rise, said Francis Joseph Reyes, officer in charge of the Office of the Civil Defense in Cagayan Valley.

The main road connecting Cagayan to Ilocos Region has been cleared of debris.

The Apayao-Abulug River has tapered down, but low-lying villages remained under water.

As many as 63,287 people (10,887 families) were evacuated due to persistent rains on Saturday, according to the provincial disaster risk reduction management office.

But most of them have returned home, according to Atanacio Macalan, Cagayan disaster risk reduction management officer.

Classes in schools in 14 northern Cagayan towns are suspended on Monday to allow repair work to proceed. —Reports from Villamor Visaya Jr. and Jhesset O. Enano