RESCUE. Personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in the Cordillera Region conduct search and rescue operations in the municipality of Buguias on Wednesday (July 26, 2023) after a landslide occurred during the onslaught of Typhoon Egay. One person has gone missing in the landslide. (Photo grabbed from the Bfp Cordillera Pis Facebook page)
BAGUIO CITY — One person is missing when a landslide occurred in a town in Benguet as Typhoon Egay battered the northern part of the country.
Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas, in a media interview on Wednesday, said the landslide buried the house of the Tumpac family in Abatan village, Buguias town, three hours or about 84 km. away from this city via the Halsema Highway. Two of the family members were rescued and taken to the hospital.
"We have rescuers at the site trying to scour the area," he said in Ilocano.
At least 15 families in Tuba, Benguet have been evacuated.
Meanwhile, Mayor Felicito Dula of Sagada, Mountain Province, in a text message, said they were attending to scores of tourists stranded in the town due to the typhoon.
"We have 102 visitors from Balanga, Bataan who celebrated their anniversary. We also have our partners from OCD (Office of Civil Defense) and DOT (Department of Tourism) who are conducting training and seminars. We also have six from Kabayan Party-list," Dula said in Ilocano.
He added that the stranded tourists remain safe in their respective accommodations.
In Baguio City, parts of the flat areas at the central business district, including Burnham Park, are submerged in flood waters after the lake overflowed as strong rains persisted since Tuesday afternoon.
The local government has declared suspension of work in all government offices, except those performing emergency response.
The whole of Baguio City and Benguet province has no power since Tuesday after fallen trees toppled power lines.
Several areas in the Cordillera Region, including Baguio City, do not have Internet connection due to damage to infrastructure.
"Back to basic tayo, mahirap kumuha ng information. Text muna pero walang visual (We’re back to basic, it’s difficult to get information. We will send text (short messaging system) but there will be no visual)," said Redjie Cawis, information officer of the Philippine Information Agency - Cordillera.
Meanwhile, Kennon Road and the Asin-Nangalisan-San Pascual-Anduyan Road going to La Union and Manila were closed to traffic while Marcos Highway remained passable as of 11 a.m Wednesday.
The regional and local disaster response groups were in the field responding to incidents. (PNA)
