The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) - Bureau of Maintenance has reported 14 road closures and restricted access in Regions V (Bicol) and VIII (Eastern Visayas) as a result of Tropical Cyclone “Kristine.”
As of 12 AM on October 23, 2024, these closures have been attributed to severe flooding, landslides, rockslides, debris flow, and road collapse.
In Region V, the affected roads include: DM Jct-Legazpi-Sto. Domingo-Tabaco-Tiwi-Camarines Sur Boundary Road, Nagas Br. 1, K0565+702, Albay – a detour road collapsed due to ongoing bridge work; Albay West Coast Road (Libon, Albay) – several sections are flooded, and soil collapse has occurred; Talobatib-Jose Panganiban-Poblacion Road, Camarines Norte – flooding in various barangays; Sta. Elena-Capalonga Bypass Road, K0268+300, Brgy. San Lorenzo, Sta Elena, Camarines Norte – flooded; Bagong Silang-Capalonga Road, K0325+600-K0325+650, Brgy. Mataque, Capalonga, Camarines Norte – flooded; Pili-Tigaon-Albay Boundary Road, K0479+000-K0480+000, intermittent sections, Camarines Sur – experiencing both flooding and rockslides; Lagonoy-Presentacion Road, Kinahulugan Section, Bagong Sirang Section, & Adiangao Section) K0488+800 RL, Camarines Sur – flooded; San Fernando North Road, K0015+700, Brgy. Sta. Rosa, San Fernando, Masbate – flooded; San Pascual-Claveria Road, K0054+470, Poblacion 1, Claveria, Masbate – flooded; and Juban-Magallanes Road, K0606+100-K0606+150 and K0609+600-K0609+725, Sorsogon – flooded.
In Region VIII, road closures include: Catarman-Calbayog Road, S00004SM), K0776+000, Poblacion Lope De Vega, Northern Samar – flooded; alternate route available via Maharlika Highway through Allen-Catarman Road; Catarman-Laoang Road (S00175SM) K0757+900 - K0758+300 Brgy. Chitongco and K0762+000 - K0763+050 Sitio Banika Brgy. Bugko, Mondragon, Northern Samar – flooded, with water levels reaching 0.91 meters; Calbayog-Catarman Road, K0787+300 - K0789+500 Brgy. Tarabucan, Calbayog City, Samar – flooded, water levels at 0.60 meters; and Pangpang-Palapag-Mapanas-Gamay-Lapinig Road, K0810+500, Brgy. Maragano, Palapag, Northern Samar – blocked by debris flow.
In addition to the full closures, other roads remain passable but are limited to heavy vehicles due to flooding: San Francisco-San Andres-San Narciso Road (Quezon Province); Libon-Bacolod-San Vicente-Marocmoc-Buga Road (Albay); Ligao-Pio Duran Road (Albay); Tigaon-Lagonoy Section (Camarines Sur); Jct. Teres-Garchitorena Road (Camarines Sur); Tinambac-Siruma Road (Camarines Sur); Goa-Digdigon-San Isidro Road (Camarines Sur); Masbate-Milagros Road (Masbate City); and Catarman-Laoang Road (Northern Samar).
DPWH teams composed of 7,952 manpower with 1,837 equipment are closely monitoring the situation and are prepared to undertake road clearing operations once weather conditions improve.
Travelers are strongly advised to seek alternate routes and exercise caution in affected areas.