Typhoon ‘Egay’ has caused significant disruption in Northern Luzon, rendering 13 national roads unpassable and closed to traffic.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) made this announcement during a press briefing held at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

The closures were deemed necessary to ensure public safety as the roads faced various issues such as soil erosion, soil collapse, fallen trees, and mudflows due to the onslaught of the powerful Super Typhoon “Egay.”

Among the affected roads are the Abra-Ilocos Norte Road, Abra-Ilocos Sur Road, Abra-Kalinga Road, Baguio-Bontoc Road, Mt. Province-Nueva Vizcaya Road, Mt. Province-Ilocos Sur via Tue Road, Mt. Province-Cagayan via Tabuk-Enrile Road, Claveria-Calanasan-Kabugao Road in Apayao, Apayao-Ilocos Norte Road, Shilan-Beckel Road in La Trinidad, Benguet, and Kennon Road in Camp 6 Tuba, Benguet. Unfortunately, most of these roads have no alternative routes except for Kennon Road, which has Naguilian and Marcos Highways as possible alternatives.

In Upper Kalingo, two roads were closed to traffic: Mt. Province-Calanan-Pinukpuk-Abbut Road and Lubuagan-Batong Bahay-Abra Boundary Road.

Additionally, four national roads in the Cordillera Administrative Region and Southern Mindoro have limited access. These roads include the Abra-Ilocos Norte Road in Danglas, Banaue-Hunduan-Benguet Boundary Road, Gov. Bado Dangwa National Road, and the Calapan South Road.

With Typhoon ‘Egay’ moving towards the northern Philippines, the country’s weather agency has issued evacuation orders for coastal communities that are expected to face the full force of the powerful storm. (ai/mnm)