More rubber boats and rescuers would be sent to Tuguegarao City in Cagayan Province for rescue operations amid the flooding caused by Typhoon Ulysses and water released of Magat Dama in Isabela, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.
“Coast Guard personnel are now working to load and transport rubber boats to Tuguegarao,” Admiral George Ursabia, Coast Guard commandant, said Saturday dawn.
“We will also haul Jet A1 from Manila to Tuguegarao to send stocks,” Ursabia added.
He added the opening of spill gates of Magat Dam to release waters a day after Typhoon Ulysses affected PSG’s search and rescue operation, which started Friday dawn in Cagayan and Isabela.
The waters from Magat Dam caused massive flooding in the two provinces, with the Cagayan River reaching its critical level.
“Upang makatugon sa mas malawak na pangangailangan ng lalawigan, sinimulan na rin ng PCG ang pagpapadala ng karagdagan pang mga kagamitan at tauhan sa Isabela at Cagayan (In order to augment the need of the provinces, the PCG started sending additional personnel to Isabela and Cagayan),” Ursabia said.
Update: The Philippine Coast Guard rescued at least 276 individuals stranded in their homes early Saturday morning.
Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary for Communications Godses Hope Libiran also posted that vehicles were deployed to conduct rescue operations.
The province of Isabel was placed under a state of calamity due to the severe flooding brought by Typhoon Ulysses.
Coast Guard sending more rubber boats, rescuers to Cagayan
According to the provincial government, 26,000 families were affected by the flooding.
“Ang malungkot dito ay hini gaanong handa na, ‘yung handang-handa na alam namin na magkakaroon ng ganito,” said Isabela Gov. Rodito Albano.
“Naghanda kami nung gabi, ininspeksyon ko ‘yung ano namin. Pero hindi namin akalain na nung gabing yun ganito kalaki yung daloy ng tubig ang bumaba sa Cagayan River,” he added.
The Magat Dam reached its spilling level and released water causing the Cagayan River to overflow.
“Nag-release pa ‘yung Magat dam. Magat Dam kasi is one of those causing ‘yung kuwan, ‘yung worsening ng aming kuwan. Nagpa-release din pos ila ngayon. Lahat po ‘yan papunta sa amin,” said Gov. Manuel Mamba.