Photo courtesy of DPWH Region 1 – Ilocos
A rockslide shut down a section of the Tagudin-Cervantes Road in Suyo, Ilocos Sur, on Thursday after heavy rain and strong winds loosened rocks and soil along the mountainside.
The Department of Public Works and Highways said the incident occurred at around 8:21 a.m. in Barangay Man-atong.
Debris covered the road between kilometer markers K0341+900 and K0342+300, making both lanes impassable.
Authorities closed the affected section to all vehicles while personnel assessed the extent of the damage and the risk of additional slides.
The DPWH attributed the rockslide to the effects of Tropical Cyclone Maymay, along with earlier rains brought by Luis and the enhanced southwest monsoon.
Maintenance crews and heavy equipment operators were deployed to the area but clearing operations had yet to begin because of unsafe weather conditions.
Officials said work would proceed once conditions improved enough to protect response teams from possible falling debris.
Motorists bound for Cervantes and nearby areas were advised to use the Junction Santiago-Banayoyo-San Emilio-Quirino Road as an alternate route.
