23 Region II deaths reported in Ulysses' aftermath –PNP

More than 20 people died in Region II or the Cagayan Valley Region following widespread flooding due to heavy rains from Typhoon Ulysses, according to a 24 Oras Weekend report by Marisol Abdurahman on Saturday.

PNP chief Police Major General Debold Sinas explained that of the 23 people who had died, 14 were killed in landslides, six had drowned, and 3 were electrocuted.

Three were also three people who were injured due to the typhoon, with five others still missing.

Sinas also reported that 13,360 families had taken refuge in the region's 1,288 evacuation centers.

An additional 4,200 families had also evacuated and had taken shelter with relatives.

Across Region II, four cities and 63 towns had been affected by the flooding.

As the PNP conducted its aerial inspection over the region, the Magat Dam was seen to be almost full of water as it continued its spilling operations.

The municipalities of Cabagan and Santo Tomas, and Isabela remained flooded, with only house roofs above water.

Some residents were also spotted at the rooftops, seeking rescue.

Meanwhile, only tree tops were visible in most parts of Tuguegarao City.

According to Sinas, 60 percent of the city was flooded. The Police Regional Office 2 meanwhile said that only 20 percent of Tuguegarao was dry, including the airport where the government's air assets were landed and launched for rescue and military missions.

"Ang sabi ng Regional Director dito, kasi tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang paglalabas ng tubig sa Magat Dam at meron ding minsan-minsan na pag-ulan. Sa ngayon ang lahat naman ng nag-request ng evacuation ay in-evacuate na," said Sinas.

Most of Cagayan province's roads remained impassable to light vehicles.

Tuguegarao Mayor Jefferson Soriano reported earlier that 40 out of his city's 49 barangays were still flooded due to Ulysses, though waters from local rivers were beginning to recede.

Isabela Governor Rodolfo "Rodito" Albano III likewise said that flooding in his province following the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses was far worse than what they had expected.

"Ang malungkot dito ay hindi gaanong handa na, 'yung handang-handa na alam namin na magkakaroon ng ganito," he said.

"Naghanda kami noong gabi. Ininspeksiyon ko 'yung ano namin. Pero hindi namin akalain na noong gabing 'yun ganito kalaki 'yung daloy ng tubig ang bumaba sa Cagayan River," he added.

The Cagayan River had swollen its banks due to the waters released from the Magat Dam, which is located in the town of Ramon.

But despite the flooding in Cagayan and Isabela, two Magat Dam gates remained open for spilling operations and were not likely to be closed due to the large volume of water coming into its reservoir.

"Hindi po pupuwedeng isara 'yung mga gate ng dams po natin dahil po may mga malaki pang volume na pumapasok o inflow sa mismong reservoir ng Magat Dam," explained PAGASA hydrologist Edgar Dela Cruz.

Meanwhile, PAGASA warned that even as Cagayan and Isabela continued to deal with flooding, the northeast monsoon or amihan would bring light to moderate rain over the Cagayan Valley, with flashfloods and landslide still a danger over the region. — Jamil Santos/DVM, GMA News