SUPER TYPHOON ‘EGAY’ LEAVES 1 DEAD, 3 INJURED IN BAGUIO

July 27, 2023 JUST IN

(Situational Report as of 5 p.m. July 26, 2023)

Torrential rains and strong winds unleashed by super typhoon “Egay” left one person dead, three injured and 639 individuals affected and scores of trees and infrastructures damaged. The Baguio City Police Office said the fatality was a 16-year-old student who along with his parents were trapped inside home after a landslide hit the area in Bakakeng Central barangay around 10:30 a.m. on July 26, 2023. The parents, a 59-year-old construction worker and 48-year-old housewife were retrieved alive by responders.

In the situational report as of 5 p.m. of July 26, 2023 of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the City Social Welfare and Development Office reported that 145 families with 639 individuals were affected in barangays Irisan, Lourdes Subd. Ext., Camp Allen and San Roque Villages due to the following incidents: 69 flooding, 15 landslides, 11 blown roof and nine fallen tree. Three houses or properties of said affected families were totally destroyed while 65 were damaged partially.

The CDRRM Office headed by officer-in-charge Glenn Lardizabal and supervised by Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Acting Mayor Faustino Olowan activated the operations center at the onset of the rains and coordinated response to reported incidents with teams from other city government offices, line agencies, volunteer groups and private companies. Reported incidents were 97 leaning/fallen trees/branches; 20 electrical concerns; 12 flooding; 8 soil erosion; 2 stranded people/vehicle; 11 landslide; and 2 clogged drainage.

The Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) has restored power in 60 percent of Baguio City and Benguet province as of 8 am today, July 27, 2023 noting sheer volume of damages to its distribution system with initial cost of damages placed at more than P2. 6 million due to broken, damaged and eroded poles felled by trees that fell on the wires. Water supply in many areas were also affected.

Marcos Highway and Naguilian Road remain open even as the Dept. of Public Works and Highways said road clearing operations are continuing in stretches affected by the typhoon warning people to “observe extra caution while on the road and avoid unnecessary travel if possible.” The City Emergency Operations Center remains on red alert status as response operations continue on the incidents reported.

Aileen P. Refuerzo