Tagudin-Cervantes road impassable due to landslide

LAOAG CITY: The Tagudin-Cervantes road in Barangay Malaya, Cervantes in Ilocos Sur is not passable to all types of vehicles due to a major landslide as of 11 a.m. on Thursday, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways in Region 1. DPWH-1 spokesperson Jocelyn Oamar said road clearing operation is ongoing as maintenance engineers and point persons have been deployed in the site to monitor the situation. She said light vehicles were stranded at portions of the Manila North Road in Barangay Calao-an, Candon, Ilocos Sur due to flooding of about 0.50 meters deep. 'Motorists are advised to use the Candon City road via Dario Street and Barangay Parioc Road,' she said. Also, both the provincial governments of Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte suspended work and classes in all levels on Thursday afternoon due to rains caused by the southwest monsoon, enhanced by Super Typhoon Carina, which has exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility based on the 11 a.m. bulletin of the state weather bureau. However, agencies involved in delivering basic and health services, disaster preparedness and response, and other essential functions will continue their operations to provide necessary services. Power interruption As of this posting, some parts of the cities of Batac, Laoag and the towns of Paoay and Sarrat have no electricity due to strong winds and heavy rains. The 69-kV Currimao-San Nicolas line of the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) tripped off on Thursday morning due to a toppled acacia tree. This resulted in power outage in Barangays Quiling Norte, Quiling Sur, Dariwdiw, Rayuray, Nagbacalan, Callaguip, Nalupta, San Julian, Cangrunaan, Rayuray, Baoa West, Baoa East, Ricarte, Ablan, Naguirangan, Capacuan, Sumader, Parangopong, Camguidan, Palongpong, Camandingan, San Mateo, San Pedro, Baay, Bungon, Baligat, and some parts of Sitio Tablan of Barangay Tabug in Batac City, the whole town of Paoay except Barangay Monte and some parts of San Pedro, Paratong and Suba except Sitio Surgot and Sitio 4 of Baran gay Balacad in Laoag City. The backbone line of INEC also touched a telecommunications pole along the highway going to Barangay Pandan, Sarrat, Ilocos Norte earlier in the day causing unscheduled power interruption in Barangays 8, 9,10, 11,12,13,14,15, 16, 17,18, and some parts of Barangay 7. INEC linemen are also conducting rigid line patrol in Barangays Camangaan, Rioeng, Lataag, San Mateo, Basil south and north and some parts of Barangays 24,25, 26, 27,28, and 29 in Laoag City, and Sarrat's Barangays 1,2,3,4,5,6, 23, and 24 due to unscheduled power interruption caused by inclement weather. Source: Philippines News agency