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6 die as 'Kabayan' hammers N. Luzon


Tropical storm "Kabayan" (international codename: Peipah) already left the north Luzon landmass, but as many as six people have already been reported killed in its wake on Monday afternoon. Radio dzMM identified six fatalities amid the storm's wrath, mostly in hard-hit Isabela province. They are Alberto Liban, Samuel Panisigan, Alejandro Bosi, Janet delos Santos and Francisco Pauig. The sixth fatality was reportedly a drowning victim in Kalinga province. The radio report said Delos Santos was a woman who was about to give birth but was unable to get medical attention because of rising flood waters. QTV Live on Q said one of the deceased died of electrocution, while another was pinned to death after the latter was crushed inside his or her own home. Ilagan City, Cauyan City and Roxas town were most affected, the QTV report said. Local officials in Ilagan said about 500 families in Camunatan village waded through floodwaters. Saturnino Fenider, Magat Dam instrumentation chief, said the water level in the dam has risen because of the recent heavy rains. The report, however, did not say if the dam's danger level was about to be breached. For her part, Isabela Gov. Grace Padace said her office will be needing assistance from the Air Force to monitor the flooded areas and reach affected families in far-flung areas. "Kabayan" exited northern Luzon and is moving toward the South China Sea, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Monday. Pagasa said another low-pressure area was spotted Monday morning, estimated at 820 kilometers east of northern Mindanao. In its 11 a.m. advisory, Pagasa said that as of 10 a.m., "Kabayan" was 80 km west of Vigan City in Ilocos Sur, with maximum sustained winds of 105 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph. "Kabayan" was moving west northwest at 15 kph and is forecast to be 390 km west of Vigan City Tuesday morning. By Wednesday morning, it is expected to be 670 km west southwest of Vigan City or 660 km west northwest of Dagupan City. Still under Storm Signal 2 are Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Abra, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Kalinga, Apayao, and Nueva Vizcaya. Under Storm Signal 1 are Zambales, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Quirino, Aurora, Isabela, Cagayan, and the Babuyan group of Islands. Public storm warning signals elsewhere have been lowered. Power outages, uprooted trees and floods were reported in parts of Cordillera and Cagayan Valley as "Kabayan" made landfall in Northern Luzon on Sunday night. Fallen trees blocked the national highway and several roads in Isabela province, which bore the brunt of the storm's onslaught. Most of the damage occurred between 8 p.m. and midnight Sunday, affecting virtually all 65 villages of Cauayan City, along with neighboring towns in the province. "Vehicles cannot pass through the main roads. We have mobilized heavy equipment to clear the roads of trees," Nestor de Villa, general services head of Cauayan City, said in Filipino on dzRH radio. In Cordillera, classes at all levels were suspended in Baguio City, Abra, Ifugao, Kalinga, Benguet and Mt. Province, as floodwaters raged in many parts of the region Sunday night. Power outages were reported in many parts of Ifugao, Kalinga and Apayao provinces. - GMANews.TV

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