Egay exits, leaves trail of death, destruction

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Egay left dozens dead as it battered Northern Luzon this week before exiting on its way to Taiwan yesterday.

Even as cyclone wind signals were lowered, up to 30 passengers aboard a small boat in Rizal drowned yesterday after they reportedly panicked and moved to one side of the vessel due to strong waves.

In Buguias, Benguet, a mother and her three children died Wednesday morning when a landslide hit their house. In Abra, a 13-year-old girl died while trying to rescue goats from drowning. Two men in the province also died.

A 38-year-old man died in a mudslide in Mountain Province, while a woman in Isabela was killed when hit by an uprooted coconut tree. In Baguio City, a 16-year-old boy was crushed in a landslide.

Four Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel went missing in Abulug, Cagayan after the aluminum boat they were using for a rescue operation capsized.

They were going to rescue seven stranded crew members of tugboat Iroquois, located 21 miles from Aparri, when their boat capsized while traversing the Cagayan River.

Egay (Doksuri) has affected an estimated 89,639 families or 328,356 individuals. Around 5,950 families or 19,826 individuals are staying in 306 evacuation centers across the country, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

The NDRRMC added that the government has provided more than P10.2 million in assistance to displaced and affected residents of various provinces.

Egay caused at least 16 landslide incidents, 108 flooded areas, five soil erosion incidents, and four fallen tree incidents, according to an emergency meeting presided by Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro on July 26.

President Marcos, who is on a three-day official visit in Malaysia since Tuesday, said he is constantly in touch with officials in disaster relief operations.

“I think the (typhoon) has left... Rescue (is ongoing) as there were people stranded because of the flooding. Rescue and then eventually relief, we will do it immediately,” Marcos said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.

Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Norte, under Signal No. 3, was declared in a state of calamity on Wednesday by the Provincial Board.

Ilocos Norte police director Col. Julius Suriben told The STAR that around 700 families were evacuated after the province experienced flooding and strong winds.

Suriben said the town of Adams has been isolated due to two landslides that blocked its main roads.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, the Office of Civil Defense Region 1 and La Union Gov. Raphaelle Ortega-David also sent teams to Ilocos Norte to help in rescue operations.

Pampanga

At least 30,616 families in Pampanga or 99,700 individuals were affected by flooding, comprised of 15,633 families in Macabebe and 14,983 in Masantol, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

Reports indicate that 19 barangays in Pampanga towns are flooded. These include five barangays in Masantol and 14 barangays in Macabebe.

Negros

Egay affected 13,541 families or 54,041 individuals and damaged 668 houses in Negros Occidental, according to the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.

Three persons reportedly drowned on July 25-26, while a fisherman went missing within Cadiz City waters.

Initial damage to livestock was at P104,450.

Bulacan dams

Angat Dam, Ipo Dam and Bustos Dam in Bulacan released water after water elevations increased by 183.48 meters, 101.37 meters and 17.44 meters, respectively, on Thursday afternoon.

The spilling level of Angat Dam is 210 meters, Ipo Dam at 101.00 meters and Bustos Dam at 17.00 meters.

Residents living near the Angat river system, particularly in the towns of Norzagaray, Angat, San Rafael, Bustos, Baliwag, Pulilan, Plaridel, Calumpit, Paombong and Hagonoy are advised to be on alert for the river water’s elevation, Bustos Dam water control and coordinating unit chief Francisco Clara told The STAR.

The provincial government of Bulacan has suspended work in government offices. – Ric Sapnu, Rudy Santos, Jun Elias, Artemio Dumalo, Gilbert Bayoran, Michael Punongbayan, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Ghio Ong