Five major roads in the Cordillera were closed on Friday as Tropical Storm “Odette” lashed out on the provinces of Apayao, Kalinga and Abra.
Landslides disrupted traffic along the Malibcong (Abra) section of Abra-Kalinga Road; Conner-Kabugao Road and Calanasan (Apayao)-Ilocos Norte Road in Apayao; Banaue-Hungduan-Benguet boundary road at Tinoc town in Ifugao province; and Talubin-Barlig-Natonin-Paracelis Road in Mountain Province, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways.
More than 120 people (42 families) were evacuated in the towns of Luna and Sta. Marcela in Apayao due to floods.
In Cagayan province, two bridges in Peñablanca town and two bridges in Baggao town were closed to traffic flow due to overflowing rivers.
The bad weather also stranded 17 people who were intending to travel by boat to the coastal towns of Maconacon and Divilacan in Isabela province and to Basco town in Batanes province.
Five passenger boats were not allowed to leave Sta. Ana port in Cagayan and the port in Batanes. —VILLAMOR VISAYA JR.