Landslides block commuters in NVizcaya, NEcija

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (10 August) — Separate landslides along the national highway in barangay Punkan in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija have paralyzed the flow of transportation since Thursday(August 6) afternoon here.

The landslides, disaster council officials here said were triggered by strong rains brought by typhoon ‘Kiko’ which lashed out northern Luzon starting yesterday.

Sta. Fe town mayor Florante Gerdan whose town serves as the gateway to Cagayan Valley said vehicles have filled a 20-kilometer stretch of the national highway since some of the 5 landslides that occurred outside the boundary of Nueva Vizcaya were huge ones.

Several commuters, upon learning the landslides since yesterday backed out from their travel and returned to their respective provinces as local officials cannot ascertain the completion of clearing operations being undertaken in the said areas.

“We are requesting our commuters to stay put in their provinces for the meantime so that immediate restoration works can be done. Equipments cannot enter to landslide areas unless we have sufficient space for them,” said Police Supt. Pedro Danguilan, police provincial director here.

Strong rains also triggered rivers in Bambang town to overflow, causing traffic problem among ordinary commuters.

A portion of the national highway in barangay Macate in Bambang town has been under strong river flow which prevent light vehicles to pass through, local policemen here said.

A portion of the Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya–Benguet road, which also serves as an alternate road for commuters coming and going out of Cagayan Valley was also blocked by landslides, police officials from Kayapa town in Nueva Vizcaya bared.

Officials of the Provincial Disaster Council in Nueva Vizcaya have advised commuters to stand by for developments as clearing operations within the two reported areas devastated by landslides are going on.

“Works are being done jointly by Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya inorder to fast track the restoration of the national highway as well as on the Aritao, NVizcaya-Benguet road,” Evaliza Agamata, provincial disaster management office said. (PIA NVizcaya)