By Venus May H. Sarmiento
Dagupan City-- Low-lying towns in the province are under water due to incessant rains brought by typhoon Julian and the enhanced southwest monsoon.

The Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council, which was immediately activated on August 4, is closely monitoring the towns of Sta. Barbara, Calasiao, Bayambang and Malasiqui which have gone under water since Tuesday.

In Dagupan City several southern barangays are also flooded due to the overflowing of Pantal and Calmay rivers that traverse the city.

PDCC said it was also strictly monitoring the Gualsic dike in Bautista town because of a small crack that could bring floodwaters to Malasiqui, Bautista and other nearby towns.

The Sta Barbara-Urdaneta City road is now closed to light vehicles, including Brgy Ventinilla because of a dike that caved in yesterday.

Sinocalan river in Sta Barbara has overflowed. This directly flows to the Lingayen Gulf that also goes to the Pantal River in Dagupan City which explains the flooding.

Trained water search and rescue (WASAR) teams are on standby to respond to any emergency situation. They were also sent to assess the tornado/twister incident in barangay Catuday, Bolinao town that caused damage to five (5) houses and injuries to some persons.

As of August 6, one fatality was reported. Mark John Curimao,20, died from drowning in brgy Cato, in Infanta town and two others - Dominador and Lydia Ocuanan both of brgy Catuday, Bolinao, were injured by the tornado/twister that happened at about 6:30 in the morning of August 5.

PDCC also reported that the eight missing fishermen were already rescued at about 5pm of August 5.

Flood bulletin issued by the Agno River Flood Forecasting and Warning center as of 4 p.m. yesterday indicates the average rainfall is 161.72 MM and was forecast for the next 24 hours to have light to moderate rains.

Flooding is still expected to occur in the low lying areas of Mangaldan, Mapandan, San Fabian, San Jacinto, Laoac, Manaoag, Sison and Pozzorubio due to slow recession of Allied Bued Patalan, Angacalan and Aloragat rivers. The good news is all highways are passable. (PIA-Pangasinan)