Hailstones fall in Isabela province

MANILA, Philippines - As rains poured down in Metro Manila and nearby areas, hailstones fell in some parts of Isabela and Cagayan provinces in Northern Luzon, a radio report said Thursday. Radio dzXL cited sketchy initial reports that no one was reported injured in the hailstorm but some crops may have sustained damage. Bad weather had hounded the Cagayan area, trapping a team of rescuers who helped retrieve the bodies of seven victims of a Chemtrad plane crash. Earlier, Office of the Civil Defense Region 2 Director Melchito Castro said flash floods in the province had so far affected 20 families or 110 people. Castro described the rains and floods during summer as abnormal, saying this was the first time floods occurred at this time of the year. “For this month, April, first time ito nangyari sa Cagayan. Nangyayari itong ganitong panahon December at January in previous years. Ngayon lang nangyari sa cagayan yan [For the floods to come in April, this is the first time it happened in Cagayan. In previous years, the floods would come in December and January]," he said, adding this may be due to climate change. - GMANews.TV