7 dead in Nueva Vizcaya landslide triggered by Pepito

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines — Seven people were confirmed dead while three others survived a landslide in Barangay Labang in Ambaguio town on Sunday, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said.

The bodies of two girls, aged eight and 18, and five boys, aged 16, 14, 13 and 12, were retrieved, PDRRMO chief King Webster Balaw-ing said yesterday.

A 40-year-old woman, a four-year-old boy and a man reportedly survived the landslide.

Heavy rains brought by Super Typhoon Pepito caused the landslide, Gov. Jose Gambito said.

“Pepito wrecked houses and establishments, destroyed bridges and roads, rice, corn and vegetable gardens, and people were trapped due to sudden floods,” Gambito reported.

The province of Nueva Vizcaya will declare a state of calamity to expedite relief and recovery efforts, he said.

As of 4:30 p.m., the province remained without electricity as Pepito toppled trees and power lines.

Pepito exits

Pepito left the Philippine area of responsibility yesterday.

Nothing is unusual about six consecutive tropical cyclones hitting the Philippines in the past three weeks, a state weather forecaster said.

“It already happened in 2020. We had eight tropical cyclones in one month, in 30 days. We were also under La Niña that time,” said Lorie dela Cruz, weather forecaster of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Tropical cyclones Kristine, Leon, Marce, Nika, Ofel and Pepito entered PAR in less than a month.

“We have a La Niña-like condition, although it’s not a full La Nina. At this time, based on studies, the formation of typhoons inside PAR is more frequent, especially since the oceans in the eastern Pacific are cooler while the oceans in the western Pacific are hotter. As a result, the typhoons develop more in the western Pacific,” Dela Cruz said.

Good weather is expected in the next two weeks, PAGASA noted.

Pepito weakened into a severe tropical storm over the West Philippine Sea yesterday, PAGASA weather specialist Veronica Torres said at a press briefing.

All tropical cyclone wind signals have been lifted.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has asked the public to heed evacuation orders during calamities following reports of two deaths in Nueva Ecija after they refused to leave their homes.

Damage, displaced families

In Nueva Ecija, the Bravo Bridge in General Natividad town suffered structural damage due to Pepito.

Motorists could not pass through the bridge as of yesterday.

Local police officials are participating in road-clearing operations, according to Col. Ferdinand Germino, provincial police director of Nueva Ecija.

Around 2,552 families or 8,364 people in Nueva Ecija were displaced by Pepito and are sheltered in evacuation centers.

In La Union, 1,308 families or 3,097 people from 14 towns were evacuated.

Power outages also occurred in some areas due to fallen trees and debris.

Classes and work in government offices were suspended yesterday by Gov. Rafy Ortega-David.

Around 531 family food packs were distributed to evacuees in the towns of Bangar, Balaoan, Bacnotan and Bauang.

Relief assistance was given to affected residents in Aringay, Santo Tomas, Rosario, Agoo, Caba, San Juan, Sudipen, Luna, Naguilian and Burgos towns.

Disaster response officials and local government units are still evaluating the extent of damage caused by Pepito.

In Camarines Norte, at least 27 houses were totally damaged while 124 were partially damaged amid Pepito’s onslaught in Barangay Banocboc, Calaguas Island.

A 76-year-old man died in a vehicular accident due to hanging internet cables along Bagasbas Road in Daet town, the Office of Civil Defense clarified yesterday.

In Metro Manila, classes were suspended in Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Marikina and San Juan.

Malabon Mayor Jeannie Sandoval distributed relief packs and hygiene kits to 95 families sheltered at Panghulo Elementary School.

San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora told The STAR there were “zero evacuees, zero flooding and zero untoward incidents” in the city.

Police deployed

Almost 13,000 police officers were deployed nationwide for relief and rescue operations, according to the Philippine National Police.

Of the number, 4,894 PNP personnel were deployed for preemptive evacuations while 8,065 members of the PNP Reactionary Standby Support Force were on standby in areas most affected by the cyclone.

Around 1,912 personnel are assisting communities in Calabarzon placed under signal No. 5.

In Cagayan Valley, 607 police officers in landslide-prone areas are aiding evacuations.

In Metro Manila, over 1,000 officers monitored urban areas for safety.

As of Sunday, the PNP said that over 1.1 million people from 303,636 families sought refuge in 22,182 evacuation centers nationwide.

Stranded

No more stranded passengers at seaports were recorded as of yesterday noon, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

The PCG had recorded 593 stranded people at 8 a.m. yesterday.

PCG personnel also assisted in evacuating over 659,220 people and 187,911 families.

Meanwhile, airports in Baler, Jomalig, Marinduque, Alabat, Pinamalayan, Calapan, Lubang, Sangley, Laoag, San Fernando, Baguio, Vigan and Rosales remain operational following the onslaught of Pepito, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

Lingayen Airport’s operations are suspended, as per the provincial government.

Dams

In Benguet, the eight gates of Ambuklao Dam and six gates of Binga Dam were opened amid rains brought by Pepito.

As of yesterday, Ambuklao Dam released 759.16 cubic meters of water per second after reaching 750.79 meters, below its normal high water level of 752 meters.

Binga Dam released 1,084.63 cms of water after reaching 573.43 meters, below its normal high water level of 575 meters.

In Isabela, three gates of Magat Dam were opened and released 1,101.89 cms of water after reaching 190.43 meters. Its normal high water level is 193 meters.

In Pangasinan, one gate of San Roque Dam released 402.52 cms of water after reaching 278.45 meters, below its normal high water level of 280 meters.

Meanwhile, Angat Dam’s water level increased by 0.39 meters after reaching 201.28 meters. Its normal high water level is 210 meters.

Ipo Dam in Bulacan reached 99.94 meters, below its normal high water level of 101.10 meters.

La Mesa Dam in Quezon City reached 79.33 meters, below its spilling level of 80.15 meters.

Pantabagan Dam in Nueva Ecija reached 212.46 meters, below its normal high water level of 221 meters.

Caliraya Dam in Laguna reached 287.21 meters, which is 0.74 meters more compared to its previous level. — Bella Cariaso, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Jun Elias, Mark Ernest Villeza, Evelyn Macairan, Rudy Santos, Pia Lee-Brago