Inquirer - December 13, 2005

Floods, landslides isolate 3 Aurora towns

BALER, Aurora - Strong monsoon rains over Aurora province since Monday have triggered landslides and caused rivers to overflow, isolating three northern towns here, reports from local officials said.

Rains loosened mud, rocks and boulders along the 12-kilometer stretch of Barangay Dianed and Dinadiawan in Dipaculao town, Dianed barangay chair Antonio Belen said.

Casiguran town Councilor Zosimo Danay Jr. said rivers in Bianuan, Dibacong and Tinib have spilled, flooding 10 villages with knee high water.

The northern road has not been passable to all types of vehicles since Friday afternoon.

A truck was buried by landslides in Sitio Dipalan in Dianed. The driver was rescued and his cargo of groceries recovered.

Belen said residents manually removed the debris along the road. Equipment of Department of Public Works and Highways have not been mobilized yet for road clearing.