NDRRMC: North Luzon roads clear but Aurora still 'isolated'

After a week of landslides and floods caused by continuous rains, roads linking most of Northern Luzon to the rest of the country are finally cleared. However, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said parts of Aurora province remained isolated as water levels there have yet to subside. "Yung Aurora na lang (ang isolated) kasi ang creek, walang tulay riyan kaya di pa madaanan mula Dipaculao hanggang Dilasag at Casiguran. Mga 10-wheeler at matataas pero ang jeep pampasahero di pa, dahil aabot sa makina," NDRRMC head Benito Ramos said in an interview on radio dzBB on Monday. (Only parts of Aurora province remain isolated because of high water levels. The affected towns include Dipaculao, Dilasag and Casiguran. Only 10-wheeler and high trucks can cross these areas. Passenger jeeps cannot because the water will flood their engines.) He also said roads and bridges in Isabela and Cagayan, which had been flooded in the last week, have been cleared and are now passable. On the other hand, Ramos said some parts of northern Isabela are still without power. Cagayan and Isabela, which had bore the brunt of casualties and damage from Typhoon Juan (Megi) last month, also suffered damage from last week's floods and landslides. At least 14 people were killed in last week's floods and landslides. Meanwhile, Ramos said the Army's 48th Infantry Battalion and the Navy have prepositioned relief goods for affected residents. — RSJ, GMANews.TV