SAN FERNANDO CITY, July 6 (PNA)–The province of La Union declared a state of calamity Monday after flood waters, spawned by almost two days of heavy rains brought about by typhoon ‘Egay,’ swamped most areas of the province.
This developed as rescue operations are still going on for residents affected by the flood in Bauang, Balaoan and Tubao in La Union.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported as of 6:00 p.m. Monday that the rescue operations were concentrated in Barangays Pudoc, Baccuit, Payocpoc Norte, Pugo, Central East and Parian Ests in Bauang; Nalasin, Magsabaran Norte, Camilo Osias ans Cabua-an in Balaoan; and Rizal In Tubao.
Flood was also felt in San Fernando City, San Juan, Luna, Bacnotan and Bangar. Classes in all levels in these areas were suspended Monday.
OCD confirmed that of the four provinces in Region 1, La Union was the worst hit by typhoon “Egay”. However, the provinces of Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte and Pangasinan have yet to report their respective damages.
At the height of the flood, the Luna-Bangar road was closed to traffic, a road section in Barangay Cabaruan, Bacnotan was not passable. Also not passable, according to OCD was the San Fernando-Bagulin road while the San Juan-San Gabriel road was passable as of 6:00 a.m. of July 6.
The Manila North Road from Bauang to San Fernando was not also passable to all types of motor vehicles because of the flooding.
Meanwhile, landslide caused the closure of one lane of the Tagudin-Cervantes road in Ilocos Sur while the slope protection of the Ilocos Norte-Apayao road was damaged.
Power interruption was experienced in Bacnotan, San Gabriel, Santol, Bangar, Sudipen and San Juan.(PNA)