Latest situational update from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), released on 8 p.m. August 15, said tropical storm ‘Helen’ has left seven people dead, one injured, two missing, and one rescued.
Ten incidents were also recorded which include two drowning cases in Basista, Pangasinan and Dingras, Ilocos Sur; one flashflood in Masinloc, Zambales; three floodings in Bauang town and San Fernando City in La Union; and four landslides in Caba, La Union and Baguio City.
In the 97 barangays in Region I, III, CAR, a total of 5,040 families or 20,807 persons were also reported to have been affected. Of these, 653 families or 2,549 persons are in 19 evacuation centers.
The said update also revealed that 14 roads and 8 bridges remain not passable in CAR and Regions I, II, III, IV-A, and IV-B.
Facilities that have restored their power supply are the following: Ambuklao-Beckel 69kV line, Bauang-San Fernando 115kV line, Bauang-San Fernando 69kV line, Magapit-Camalaniugan 69kV line, and Tuguegarao-Magapit 69kV line.
Meanwhile, Sta. Ana, Sta. Teresita, and Gonzaga, Cagayan have ongoing power restoration.
As of 6 p.m. yesterday, the ferry boat operation in Magapit, Lallo, Cagayan has been suspended temporarily, according to NDRRMC.
Cost of damage in agriculture in Ilocos Sur is P616,000 and La Union is P139,000, amounting to P755,000.
In Baguio City, P75,000 worth of relief assistance was provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
‘Helen’ leaves
In a 5 a.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical & Astronomical Services Administration said that tropical storm ‘Helen’ was estimated at 290 kilometers West Northwest of Laoag City. It has recorded maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center with gustiness of up to 100 kph.
PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio, in a radio interview with dzMM Thursday, said that ‘Helen’ is now out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
However, the Western section of Luzon will still experience occasional to frequent rains. Residents in low-lying areas are warned as it may trigger flashfloods and landslides.
The rest of Luzon and Western Visayas, on the other hand, will have mostly cloudy skies and scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms.
The rest of the country will have party cloudy to cloudy skies and isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.
