1 dead as ‘Igme’ spawns rains in La Union

MTSAT ENHANCED-IR Satellite Image 11:00 p.m., 20 August 2012

MANILA, Philippines—One was recorded dead from the rains spawned by Typhoon “Igme,” the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Monday.

The fatality was a boy, identified as Michael DC Estacio, who was carried by a strong current of water in La Union. He was declared dead on arrival in La Union Medical Center in Agoo.

Meanwhile, 353 families or 1,476 persons were affected in 10 villages in La Union due to flashfloods, some of which have been evacuated.

The Binga dam in Benguet, which has a spilling level of 575.00m, was already at 573.94m as of 6p.m. and has opened two gates; Ambuklao dam in Benguet, which has a water level of 750.78m, close to its spilling level of 752.00, has opened one gate; and San Roque dam in Pangasinan, with a spilling level of 280.00m has also opened one gate as it reached 280.90m.

Meanwhile, Typhoon Igme continues to intensify as it moves northward, the state weather bureau said.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, public storm warning Signal No. 1 was still hoisted over Cagayan and Isabela.

It was last located 330 km east of Aparri Cagayan, packing maximum sustained winds of 150kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph. It moved a bit faster at 11kph towards north.