LINGAYEN, Pangasinan October 21 – Residents in barangays situated along the mountain slopes of Labrador, Bugallon, Aguilar, Mangatarem and Mabini who were affected by flash floods caused by typhoon Lando have been rescued and transferred safely to evacuation centers.
Rescue operations were conducted by teams from attached agencies and offices of the Pangasinan Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) on Monday, instruction of Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. As of date, teams were still deployed in various areas in Pangasinan to rescue typhoon-affected residents.
Governor Espino, in an interview at the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Tactical Operations Center in Lingayen earlier today, October 19, explained that flash floods that occurred in parts of these towns were due to the bulk of accumulated rain waters from the mountains brought about by the typhoon and “not because of swelling of the rivers.”
“Ang patuloy na pag-ulan ang dahilan ng pagkakaroon ng flash floods sa tabi ng bundok,” the provincial chief executive said.
It was learned that spill gates of the San Roque dam in San Manuel are still closed, thereby there is no truth that swelling of rivers is caused by the release of dam waters.
As of 8AM, current water level in San Roque dam is at 277.78 meters above sea level (masl) or 2.22 meters below the 280masl spilling level.
Portions of major roads in some parts of towns affected by flash floods, specifically the Camiling, Tarlac to Lingayen, Pangasinan road, are not passable at the moment due to fallen trees.
As of 12nn today, the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office listed a total of 534 families (2,286 persons) in nine towns have been transferred safely in evacuation centers and are given immediate relief efforts by their respective LGUs.
The number of evacuees is broken down as follows: Anda -78 persons, Binmaley – 72 persons, Bolinao – 992 persons, Lingayen – 565 persons, San Fabian – 382 persons, Sual – 75 persons, Bugallon – 38 persons, Infanta – 17 persons and Manaoag – 67.
Reported casualties are: 75-year-old Mauro Nuerong from barangay Pampano, Mangatarem, who died when a santol tree toppled by strong winds crashed down his house; 80-year-old Regina Sabangan of barangay Bongato, Bayambang, who slipped off the floor in her house and was declared dead-on-arrival at the Bayambang District Hospital due to acute head injury; and 1-year-old Jan Kerby Capena of barangay Ilog Malino, Bolinao, who died when a mango tree fell on their house.
Injured are: Ariel Capena, 47, and Esmeralda Capena, 37, parents of Kerby; and Alejandro Castillo, 57, of barangay Buayaen, Bayambang who suffered pelvic injury after he was hit by a fallen tree during a clearing operation.
Governor Espino, in a meeting yesterday, October 18, with key officials of attached agencies and offices of PDRRMC instructed them to heighten the monitoring of areas affected by the inclement weather condition and quickly respond to emergency cases.
Along with the governor, Pangasinan PNP OIC Rollie Saltat, Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil and Liga ng mga Barangay Provincial President Amado “Pogi” Espino III are present at the PDRRMC Tactical Operations Center today for typhoon monitoring.
PAGASA lowered public storm signal no. 1 in Pangasinan at 12NN today. Light rains with strong winds has been experienced all over Pangasinan. There is power outage in most parts of eastern, central and western Pangasinan as a precautionary measure for impending hazards.
