59 fishermen find refuge at Scarborough Shoal: Hundreds of families flee flooding in Luzon towns

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur -- Towering waves hit coastal areas in Ilocos Sur Thursday, forcing more than 200 families to evacuate their homes even as hundreds of people were also evacuated in northern and Central Luzon as a result of Typhoon “Pedring.”

The Ilocos provincial disaster risk reduction and management council reported storm surge hit the coastal barangays of Pasungol, Bucalag and Tabuculan in Santa town around 7:30 a.m.

The storm surge was spawned by Typhoon Pedring's strong winds. The typhoon was still packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 160 kph as it moved away from the country.

The PDRRMC said at least 250 families were affected by the storm surge.

It said that local government authorities have ordered a forced evacuation of coastal villagers who insisted on staying in their homes despite the strong waves.

This, as 59 fishermen on board six fishing boats, who went missing since Sept. 22, are all safe and sound after finding refuge at Scarborough Shoal.

The fishermen, who were from Barangay Cato in Infanta, Pangasinan, sought shelter at the shoal at the height of the devastation of Typhoon "Pedring".

Conrado Cabrera, commander of the Philippine Coast Guard detachment in Sual, said the village chief of Cato informed him via a text message that the 59 fishermen are all “safe and sound”.

Cabrera allayed fears of the families of the fishermen, saying they will return home as soon as "Pedring" will finally exits the country.

The Scarborough Shoal, which is a part of the Philippine territory, is also the same place where fishermen from other countries are also making emergency shelter whenever the sea is rough and becomes dangerous.

In Lingayen, Pangasinan, Gov. Amado T. Espino Jr. assured Thursday the safety of his constituents residing in areas that serve as a catch basin of water released from San Roque Dam through more efficient management of spilling operations.

As such, water was released to its spillway at 12 noon Thursday to preempt any sudden release in water that caused flashflooding in low-lying areas in the past. Espino put to task the San Roque Power Corporation to have an efficient coordinating system with the provincial government to prevent sudden flooding that puts lives at risk.

In Aurora province heavy rains and strong winds dumped by Typhoon “Pedring” on Tuesday closed two national roads leading to the province, toppling power and communication lines in four central towns and isolating three northernmost towns from the rest of Central Luzon.

Erson Egargue, chief of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said 71 families or 200 individuals were evacuated to higher grounds in this capital town, Dilasag and Dingalan due to flash floods.

Howling winds knocked down electric posts in this town, Dipaculao, Ma. Aurora and San Luis, resulting in a power interruption starting at 3 a.m. Tuesday.

Power has not been restored as of press time.

A 37-year-old fisherman Christopher Madhos has been reported missing in Barangay Sabang since Monday.

Elmer Da bbay, district engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways, said heavy rains toppled trees, flooded spillways and rendered impassable the 120-kilometer Baler-Casiguran Road and the Baler-Bongabon Road crossing Barangay Villa in Ma. Aurora town, cutting off the towns of Dinalungan, Casiguran and Dilasag.

The DPWH could not yet start road-clearing operations because of the floods.

“Maybe we can start clearing operations once floodwaters have subsided,” Dabbay said.

He said that because there was no communication in Casiguran and Dilasag, they have no updates on the situation there.

The three towns were also isolated from this capital town after landslides struck the landslide-prone Barangay Dianed and Barangay Abuleg in Dinalungan due to “Juaning” in July.

The Pantabangan-Canili Road remains as the only route leading to this province after the makeshift bridge in Villa was washed away by floods.

Work and classes remain suspended here even as typhoon signal has been lifted.

Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo said they are still assessing the extent of the damage to properties, infrastructure and agriculture in the province.

She said they have already pre-positioned relief goods for the affected families. – With reports from Jerry Padilla, Jennelyn Mondejar, Liam Anacleto and PNA