7 dead in N. Vizcaya landslide triggered by Pepito

Seven people were confirmed dead while three others survived a landslide in Barangay Labang in Ambaguio town on Sunday, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said.

- VICTOR MARTIN

The bodies of two girls, aged eight and 18, and five boys, aged 16, 14, 13 and 12, were retrieved, PDRRMO chief King Webster Balaw-ing said yesterday.

A 40-year-old woman, a four-year-old boy and a man reportedly survived the landslide.

Heavy rains brought by Super Typhoon Pepito caused the landslide, Gov.

Jose Gambito said.

"Pepito wrecked houses and establishments, destroyed bridges and roads, rice, corn and vegetable gardens, and people were trapped due to sudden floods," Gambito reported.

The province of Nueva Vizcaya will declare a state of calamity to expedite relief and recovery efforts, he said.

As of 4:30 p.m., the province remained without electricity as Pepito had toppled trees and power lines.

Pepito exits

Pepito left the Philippine area of responsibility yesterday.

Nothing is unusual about six consecutive tropical cyclones hitting the Philippines in the past three weeks, a state weather forecaster said.

"It already happened in 2020. We had eight tropical cyclones in one month, in 30 days. We were also under La Niña that time," said Lorie dela Cruz, weather forecaster of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Tropical cyclones Kristine, Leon, Marce, Nika, Ofel and Pepito entered PAR in less than a month.

"We have a La Niña-like condition, although it's not a full La Niña. At this time, based on studies, the formation of typhoons inside PAR is more frequent, especially since the oceans in the eastern Pacific are cooler while the oceans in the western Pacific are hotter. As a result, the typhoons develop more in the western Pacific," Dela Cruz said.

Good weather is expected in the next two weeks, PAGASA noted.

Pepito weakened into a severe tropical storm over the West Philippine Sea yesterday, PAGASA weather specialist Veronica Torres said at a press briefing.