Landslide stalls Manila-Bicol vehicles

By Juan Escandor Jr. NAGA CITY---The heavy rains that hit Camarines Sur Tuesday night has loosened the soil of a hill beside the road going to and coming from Metro Manila where a landslide took place early morning Wednesday (Dec. 27) stalling and diverting the traffic via Sta. Elena town in Camarines Norte. Lucena Bermeo, chief of Environment and Disaster Management Assistance Office, said the landslide that covered 50 meters wide of the road in Barangay Comadaycaday in Del Gallego, Camarines Norte has initially blocked the Andaya Highway until about 9:00 a.m. when one lane of the highway had been cleared. Bermeo said motorists were directed to take the Sta. Elena road going to Daet town in nearby Camarines Norte province as detour going south of Bicol. She said they have adopted an alternating traffic of 10 vehicles passing through at one time. However, Bermeo advised that it will be more convenient for motorists for the meantime to just detour to Sta. Elena road going to Daet town then to Camarines Sur. Another landslide was reported in Del Gallego town but no one was reported hurt. Bermeo also said the six fishermen reported missing was rescued in San Andres town in Catanduanes. She said the six fishermen are now recuperating at the San Andres Hospital.