One dead as falling tree pins down cab in Baguio

BAGUIO CITY (July 24, 2021)—  A call center agent was declared dead-on-arrival  at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) after the taxi she and three others were riding on was hit by a fallen tree at 3:15 PM Friday along Camp 8, Kennon Road,here.

The fatality was identified as Esmerelda Suriaga, 39, call center agent, single, Samuel Suriaga, single, and Wilfredo Suriaga, 63, married. The victims are all residing at No. 6 Richgate, Montecillo, Camp 7, Baguio City.

The driver was identified as Mizon Galano, 33, a resident of Upper Quezon Hill, Baguio City.

Baguio police reported that the occupants were on board a taxi ascending along Camp 8, Baguio City heading towards the City Proper when they were caught by the falling tree from the right side of the road. The tree fell because of loose soil dampen by heavy downpour and strong winds brought by the monsoon.

The Suriagas were rushed to BGHMC where Esmeralda did not make it. Both Samuel and Wilfredo was discharged on the same day. The driver meanwhile was unharmed.

Meanwhile, motorists and commuters were stranded for hours as the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO) of La Trinidad, Benguet cleared the almost three-kilometer portion of the Halsema Highway of muds and rocks swept from the higher grounds Barangay Cogcoga, La Trinidad in the afternoon of July 23, 2021.

The rock and mud on the highway led workers to work overnight to clear the main through fare for motorists.

Artemio A. Dumlao