By: Charles Nikko Limon
Evacuations and continuous monitoring were underway across several towns in Cagayan Valley after widespread flooding triggered by the shear line submerged communities and rendered major roads and bridges impassable.
In Cagayan, the Pinacanauan River overflowed following hours of heavy rain, affecting parts of Tuguegarao City.
Several roads, including Pinacanauan Avenue and portions of Lower Bonifacio Street in Centro 1, could no longer be accessed by motorists.
By around 6 a.m. on November 26, water levels at the river reached 8.3 meters, dangerously close to the 9-meter critical level.
The Philippine Coast Guard immediately evacuated residents living near the riverbanks as a precaution against further flooding.
In Baggao, four bridges were closed due to rising waters.
Floodwaters also caused heavy disruption in the town of Amulung, while MDRRMO personnel in Enrile continued monitoring as river levels there steadily climbed.
Flooding likewise hit the province of Isabela. In Ilagan City, water surged across Abuan Bridge, prompting police to stop vehicles from passing.
Within minutes, floodwaters had completely reached the bridge deck.
In Echague, the Anafunan Bridge was submerged, while the Cabagan–Santa Maria Overflow Bridge in Cabagan town became impassable due to the swelling river.
In Cauayan City, motorists were forced to load their motorcycles onto boats after the Alicaocao Bridge was overtaken by floodwaters.
Residents in Barangay Ammugauan in Santo Tomas also resorted to using boats as water levels rapidly rose.
Several rivers in Palanan reached orange alert level, signaling high-risk conditions.
In Divilacan, roads were inundated while some rivers were close to spilling over.
The Cordillera region was not spared. In Mountain Province, the Mountain Province–Cagayan via Tabuk–Enrile Road in Bontoc was closed due to a landslide.
Authorities are still assessing the total number of affected residents as the shear line continues to bring rainy conditions across Cagayan Valley and the Cordillera, with wet weather expected to persist until the weekend.
