Emong causes landslides, floods, power outages in northern Luzon

Severe tropical storm Emong battered northern Luzon on Friday, causing landslides, floods, and power outages that prompted evacuations and emergency response efforts.

In Baguio City, the Public Information Office reported 34 incidents of landslides, soil erosion, and rockfall by 9 a.m., including one landslide that partially buried four homes in Purok 2, Outlook Drive, where two women were rescued and taken to hospital.

A taxi was trapped by a landslide along Kennon Road in Camp 7, prompting residents nearby to evacuate as the road remained impassable with clearing operations pending heavy equipment from DPWH.

In Benguet province, the Balili River rose to near-bridge level, threatening nearby structures, while in Mountain Province, the Chico River breached the yellow warning level due to combined effects of Emong and habagat.

Floods entered homes and strong winds damaged roofs and felled trees in San Fernando City, La Union, while uprooted trees littered parts of the national highway in Barangay Pampang, Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya.

The Cagayan provincial government ordered forced evacuations in towns like Rizal, Sta. Praxedes, and Claveria due to Emong's path, with the Philippine Military Academy coordinating disaster response efforts.

Since last week, monsoon rains driven by storms Emong, Dante, and Crising have resulted in at least 25 deaths across the region.