Three dead, two missing in Isabela due to Ulysses flooding, says governor

Three people died while two remain missing after many parts of Isabela were flooded following heavy rains from Typhoon Ulysses, Governor Rodolfo "Rodito" Albano III said on Sunday.

Thirty-five percent of the province was flooded, Albano added, according to a tweet by GMA News reporter Jonathan Andal.

Video footage taken by Andal showed part of the extent of the flooding caused by the swelling of the Cagayan River, which was also aggravated by the release of waters from Magat Dam.

Many agricultural lands were damaged.

Authorities are hoping the flooding will subside in two to three days if there will be no heavy rains again.

Albano said the floodwaters have started slowly subsiding.

"Nasa tatlong dangkal na ang ibinaba ng tubig," he said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

Isabela Vice Governor Faustino Bodjie Dy earlier said on Sunday that a town and several barangays remained isolated due to the floods.

“Meron po tayong isolated na bayan, katulad po ng bayan ng Sto. Tomas. Sila po talaga 'yung napakalaki. At hirap na hirap ang aming probinsiya na magdala po ng pangangailangan po nila,” he said.

Aside from this, Dy said some barangays in Ilagan, Tumauini, San Pablo, and Delfin Albano are still isolated due to the flooding.

Isabela has been placed under a state of calamity due to the massive flooding.

Albano said Vice President Leni Robredo visited the province to find out the conditions in the area following the flooding. 

—KG, GMA News