‘Igme’ claims three lives in CAR

BAGUIO CITY – Typhoon “Igme’s” aftermath claimed three lives in Abra province when the swelled Abra River’s waters swept two to their death and one buried by a landslide.

Office of Civil Defense – Cordillera director Olivia Luces named the fatalities as Ismael Gayban, 52, from Buanao, Malibcong town in Abra; Anna Balweg, 12, from Mataragan, also in Malibcong town; and Dale Mallaggay, three, from Duldulao, also in Malibcong.

Mallaggay and his mother Gemma were reportedly crossing the rampaging Abra River when they were swept off their feet and were taken by the strong current on Monday night. The elder Mallaggay is still missing.

Gayban was reportedly walking along a trail in a mountainous area when the loosened soil from the mountain rushed down to bury him Monday afternoon.  

Anna Balweg and her grandmother Bilis Balweg, 53, were struck by lightning, killing the young girl and injuring the elder Balweg also on Monday.

The OCD which poured much of its time in monitoring the situation in Abra, perhaps the hardest hit by Igme, reported that a wooden bridge in Subagan, Baay-Licuan town was also destroyed.

Some 686 persons belonging to 151 families region-wide were evacuated to higher grounds due by swollen rivers during the downpours.

A total of 1,031 other persons belonging to 220 families were also adversely affected, the OCD said.

No major damages, however, were reported on government infrastructures during the two-day uproar of Igme.