Floods swamp 40 villages in Isabela capital

ILAGAN, Isabela - Forty barangays or nearly half of the 91 villages of this northern capital town went under water due to five days of continuous raining. The situation has caused the swelling of the Cagayan, Abuan and Pinacanauan rivers. A staff from the office of Mayor Jose Marie L. Diaz told GMANews.TV that the most severely affected areas are barangays Alinguingan 1, 2 & 3, Guinatan, Bagumbayan, San Vicente, Fugu, Anggasian, Cabisera 4 & 10 and Sipay. These villages are located near riverbanks. Mountain villages swept by flash floods include Paliueg, Sindon Bayabo and Sindon Maride. These are now partially isolated due to landslides that blocked access roads. The town was placed under "state of calamity" but resources being mobilized for rescue and relief operations now are purely from the local government unit, the source revealed. The Philippine Army and the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council have joined the local government in evacuating residents who were trapped in floods. "Rescuers are now using motorized rubber boats to bring residents to safer areas," an official said. Meanwhile, the water level at the Magat Dam reservoir in Ramon town of Isabela is nearing the 192-meter critical level. On Saturday, the reading was placed at 188 meters. Once the Magat Dam releases excess water, more Isabela towns are expected to be flooded. These includes areas near the riverbanks in San Mateo, Cabatuan, Aurora, Luna and Naguilian. - Abe Almirol, GMANews.TV