Tropical Storm “Helen” crossed Isabela province at dawn on Wednesday, dumping heavy rains and whipping strong winds that toppled trees, especially in the coastal villages facing the Pacific Ocean. At least six fatalities were reported.
Although the storm was expected to be out of the country by noon Thursday, it would enhance the southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” which has been dumping rains over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon’s western section, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
At 10 a.m. Wednesday, Helen (international name: Kai Tak) was tracked at 40 kilometers south-southeast of Aparri, Cagayan, moving west-northwest at 13 km per hour.
Pagasa forecaster Chris Perez said it was packing peak winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph, slightly weaker than when it was still over water.
At least six flights to Cagayan and Isabela were canceled at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila.
Storm signals
Storm Signal No. 2, indicating winds of 61-100 kph, was hoisted over Cagayan, including the Calayan and Babuyan island groups, Isabela and northern Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Ilocos Sur, Apayao, Kalinga, Ilocos Norte, Abra and Batanes provinces.
Signal No. 1, indicating winds of 30 to 60 kph, was raised over the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac, La Union and the rest of Aurora.
In Baguio City, two small-scale miners, Jonaphe Pandosen and Ekmer Domines, were buried by a landslide that struck their camp in Mt. Emerald, Barangay (village) Kias, at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Their companion, Marcos Baniguen, 62, was rescued and taken to Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.
Domines, 42, was dug out alive at 11:30 a.m. but died on the way to the hospital. The body of Pandosen, 50, was recovered at 12:45 p.m.
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