By FRANCIS C. HIDALGO JR.

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – Traffic between Cagayan Valley and all areas to its south was hampered for several hours yesterday (Aug. 7) as a result of landslides that piled up along sections of the national highway in Nueva Ecija with thousands of passengers and motorists stranded, as well as agricultural produce and other goods, from rains brought about by typhoon Kiko.




rains from typhoon Kiko also brought along flood waters which inundated parts of Bambang town here waist-deep. Other parts of the region also experienced floods as Kiko cut a swathe through the region with storm signal No. 1 already raised over Batanes, northern Cagayan province, and Ilocos Norte.

According to Chief Superintendent Roberto Damian, Cagayan Valley police director, parts of the national highway in Barangay Minuli, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija were subjected to intermittent closure from landslides brought about by the heavy rains from Kiko.

“This had resulted to traffic delays which will be experienced as long as landslides triggered by nonstop rain continue to litter the road,” said Damian, who is concurrently regional disaster coordinating council chief.

Rubble from landslides was also reported to cover some parts of Dalton Pass on the Nueva Vizcaya side.

Floods were also reported in various parts of the region, including Nueva Vizcaya’s southern villages as a result of rains brought about by the storm.