Baguio City evacuates 170 families as Helen lashes N. Luzon

MANILA, Philippines–At least 170 families in Baguio City have been evacuated as tropical storm “Helen” (international name: Kai-tak) lashed northern Luzon with heavy rains and strong winds Wednesday.

Heavy downpours and reports of landslides have prompted local governments of Baguio and Benguet to launch pre-emptive evacuation, Andrew Alex Uy, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Cordillera officer in charge said in a radio interview.

“We have received reports of activated evacuation centers here in Baguio and La Trinidad Benguet. [Evacuation] is also ongoing in the provinces of Apayao and Kalinga,” he said.

He said strong rains have been recorded since Wednesday morning in those provinces.

Uy said that the local government units are still able to take care of evacuees, but they are still awaiting more reports from their field units on the official number of evacuees.

Several landslides have also been reported along major highways but these roads remain passable, he said.

Helen made landfall in Cagayan province early Wednesday and was expected to exit Luzon Thursday morning, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.