13 road sections in Luzon closed due to ‘Nika’

NATURE’S WRATH. A drone shot from the Cagayan Provincial Information Office shows a flooded area of Tuguegarao City. The Department of Public Works and Highways on Tuesday (Nov. 12, 2024) said 13 road sections across the Cordillera Administrative Region and the Cagayan Valley region are closed due to the impact of Typhoon Nika (international name: Toraji). (Photo: Cagayan Provincial Information Office/Facebook)

By Ferdinand Patinio, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has reported that 13 road sections across the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and the Cagayan Valley region have been closed due to the impact of Typhoon Nika (international name Toraji).

In a news release, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said the DPWH Bureau of Maintenance reported that as of 6 a.m. Tuesday, nine national road sections in Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province are currently impassable.

These are:
–Banaue-Hungduan-Benguet boundary road (Tukucan, Tinoc, Ifugao) due to landslide.
–Banaue-Mayoyao-A Lista-Isabela boundary road (K0341+(-880) – K0411+187, Ifugao) due to soil collapse.
–Lubuagan–Batong-Buhay road (Puapo, Dangtalan, Pasil, Kalinga) due to soil/rock collapse.
–Baguio – Bontoc road (Namatec, Sabangan section and Malitep, Bontoc, Mountain Province) due to soil collapse and fallen utility poles.
–Mountain Province – Cagayan via Tabuk-Enrile road (Sameyeo, Bontoc Ili, Bontoc section and Makutiti, Sadanga section, Mountain Province) due to soil collapse.
–Mountain Province – Ilocos Sur via Tue road (Cabunagan, Tadian, Mountain Province) due to soil collapse.
–Mountain Province – Nueva Vizcaya road (Ab-ab, Bayyo section, Talubin section, Lat-ey, Samoki section, K0381+050, Samoki section, and Fanias, Samoki section, Bontoc, Mountain Province) due to soil collapse.
–Sagada – Besao – Quirino road (Banguitan, Besao, Mountain Province) due to soil collapse.
–Jct Talubin-Barlig-Natonin-Paracelis-Calaccad road (Natonin, Mountain Province) (a. K0430+600, Tonglayan; b. K0426+250, Porag; and c. K0428+800, Tonglayan) due to soil collapse and mudslides.

In Cagayan and Quirino provinces, the four impassable road sections are:

–Itawes Overflow bridge (Sta Barbara, Piat, Cagayan) due to flooding.
–Gadu-Carilucud-Nabbotuan-Palao-Maccutay road (Barangay Carilucud, Solana, Cagayan) due to flooding.
–Jct Abbag-Nagtipunan-Nueva Vizcaya road via Dupax (La Conwap, Nagtipunan, Quirino) due to flooding along the detour road.
–Jct Victoria-Maddela-Alicia-Kasibu boundary road (Barangay Villa Santiago, Aglipay, Quirino) due to soil collapse and fallen trees.

On the other hand, the DPWH said three road sections in Aurora and Isabela have limited access due to flooding:

–Baler-Casiguran road (Dinadiawan-Casiguran Section, Barangay Simbahan, Dinalungan, Aurora) is passable only to heavy vehicles.
–Baler-Casiguran road (Dinadiawan-Casiguran Section, Barangay Marikit, Casiguran, Aurora) is passable only to heavy vehicles.
–Santiago-Tuguegarao road (Barangay San Pedro to San Pablo, Aurora, Isabela) is passable only to heavy vehicles.

The DPWH’s Disaster and Incident Management Teams, along with Quick Response Assets, have already installed warning signs to alert the public about road closures.

Bonoan said clearing operations would begin once the affected areas are declared safe for maintenance activities.