CAN’T CROSS THIS Students and teachers in Gattaran, Cagayan, are forced to spend the night in school on Wednesday as they cannot risk crossing this swollen river in their village. Floodwaters receded on Thursday. —VLADEMIR RAPANAN/CONTRIBUTOR
TUGUEGARAO CITY — Heavy and continuous rains due to the prevailing northeast monsoon (amihan) triggered widespread flooding in low-lying villages in Cagayan province this week, local and disaster response officials said.
According to the Cagayan disaster risk reduction and management council, the Bitag Pequeño and Bagunot bridges and some major roads at Mocag village in Baggao town were inundated by floodwater that reached about a meter (3 feet) high on Wednesday.
The Nattallag bridge and Mangga village road in Peñablanca town were also submerged in floods due to the swelling of rivers in the area.
In Gattaran town, 20 students and teachers decided to spend the night at the Mabuno Elementary School as the Cagayan River at Sitio Rissic in Barangay Mabuno burst its banks.
Vlademir Rapanan, a teacher at Mabuno Elementary School, told the Inquirer that the swollen river was “too dangerous” to cross, noting that they had to wait for the water to subside before returning home.
Emergency response teams were sent to flooded areas to assist stranded residents.
Fisherman rescued
As of Thursday, the floodwaters receded in many parts of Cagayan and despite the torrential downpours, no families were forced to evacuate, according to local disaster response officials.
In Santa Ana town, a 46-year-old fisherman was rescued when his boat sank after its engine failed due to strong waves on Thursday.
Reports said Ramil Moratalya was found adrift in the open sea by another fisherman who immediately came to his rescue. Moratalya was taken to a rural health unit for medical evaluation.
In the 5 a.m. bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, the northeast monsoon was affecting most parts of the Cagayan Valley region and other provinces in northern Luzon.
The state weather bureau warned of possible floods or landslides due to moderate and heavy rains in the region that is composed of the provinces of Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino. —VILLAMOR VISAYA JR.
READ: Cooler days ahead due to amihan — Pagasa