TBK News! The North Luzon Earthquake of 2022

TBK and Kuya Vin at Bantay Watch Tower in 2018

Back in 2018 I went with Kuya Vin in a Kalesa ( horse drawn Cart) to visit the beautiful bell tower at Bantay. We spent a week touring the old city of Vigan with its beautiful old buildings, churches and cobbled streets. I am so glad I made this trip as yesterday the North Luzon area was hit by a huge Earthquake. Our reporter on the ground in Luzon, Chester Delos - Santos picks up the story:

"Reporting LIVE and ALIVE, this is your correspondent Chester!"

"In the early mornings of July 27, 2022 at exactly 8:43 AM, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck North Luzon with its epicenter detected in Lagangilang, Abra - considered as the northernmost province of the mainland Luzon. The earlier report was further reduced to magnitude 7.0 by PhiVolcs after final reading. As recorded, four people died and three regions in North Luzon were affected."

source: https://twitter.com/PhilippineStar/status/1552102569652076545?s=20&t=nsQclFQE9vnr0dYD5Gwnjw

"Aftershocks were continuously felt hours after the big hit with tsunami warnings raised in coastal areas of the region. Some of the photos of the aftermath have shown the damage brought by the earthquake, leaving historical sites, commercial establishments and residential houses in shambles."

ctto: https://t.co/arrs6eiyki

https://twitter.com/dailyguardianph/status/1552119373787443201?s=20&t=I-SvVKPAlbzYaaFjmi5OBw

https://twitter.com/eripolca/status/1552100188319203329?s=20&t=I-SvVKPAlbzYaaFjmi5OBw

"The shock was also felt in Baguio city, Cordillera and all the way down to NCR where offices, schools and establishment forced evacuated people as preventive measures. It has an intensity 4 reading in this area."

ctto: hhttps://twitter.com/theklmanuel/status/895885503332876292?s=20&t=nsQclFQE9vnr0dYD5Gwnjw

https://twitter.com/brygonzales_ph/status/1552094577380564997?s=20&t=nsQclFQE9vnr0dYD5Gwnjw

https://twitter.com/KimYoj1/status/1552096787422662657?s=20&t=nsQclFQE9vnr0dYD5Gwnjw

"Some of older readers may also remember that one of the strongest earthquakes that ever hit Luzon , notoriously named "The Killer Quake", happened in July of 1990, the same month. An event 32 years ago which left the people of Luzon traumatized up to this day."

The 1990 Luzon Killer Quake

Source: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1041379

"BREWING REPORT: As of 04:02 AM of Thursday, July 28 2022, An aftershock with a magnitude of 5.0 has been recorded with its epicenter at Tayum, Abra - a town close to Lagangilang."

source: https://twitter.com/PhilippineStar/status/1552419592731267072?s=20&t=nsQclFQE9vnr0dYD5Gwnjw

"Stay tuned for more update on this news. Back to you at the TBK Newsroom."

Our TBK news Anchor , in the studio in Barangay Bagon Sikat

"Thanks Chester and I am joined now by a resident of Abra, Mr Fernando Perlas, ( Retired DNER), who brings us the latest news from the area."

"Firstly, Mr Perlas, for our readers not familiar with the area , how far is Vigan from Abra?"

" In a straight line it is just 20 kms but by road from Vigan to Abra is 60kms via Narvacan crossing to Abra (30kms) and Vigan (30kms). The maps below show the location with reference to Laoag City ( the airport for Vigan ) on the North and San Fernando La Union in the South"

"Many thanks , Mr Perlas, I am sure even those who know the area will have a clearer picture of where the epicenter was. "

"Talking of clear pictures did you get any pictures of the trail of destruction left by the quake in Abra?"

"Thank you , Mr Perlas. I understand there have been many landslides caused by the earthquake and the heavy rains in the mountainous Baguio area. Can we share with our readers a list of the closed roads?"

"Sure, Sir, at the moment the following roads are closed:"

As of 2:00 PM, July 27, 2022 there are a total of 14 Road Closures most damages due to soil collapse, slope collapse, rock slides, crack along the road lines.

𝗔𝗯𝗿𝗮: 𝟯 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 Abra – Kalinga Road CLOSED Abra – Ilocos Norte Road CLOSED Abra – Cervantes CLOSED • Biweng Bridge along Abra – Cervantes Rd. – Damaged Approach – Barricades are Installed

𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗿 : 𝟮 𝗧𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 KENNON ROAD CLOSED Baguio – Bua – Itogon Road – CLOSED

𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘁 𝟮𝗻𝗱: 𝟭 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 Dangwa National Road – CLOSED

𝗜𝗳𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗼 𝟭𝘀𝘁: 𝟭 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 Banaue – Hungduan – Benguet Boundary Road CLOSED

𝗟𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮: 𝟭 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 Mt. Province – Calanan – Pinukpuk – Abbut Road – CLOSED

𝗨𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻 : 𝟮 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 Kalinga – Abra Road- CLOSED Lubuagan – Batong Bahay – Abra Road – CLOSED

𝗠𝘁. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 : 𝟰 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 Baguio – Bontoc Road CLOSED Mt. Province – Cagayan – Enrile Road CLOSED Mt. Province – Ilocos Sur via Kayan Road – CLOSED Mt. Province – Ilocos Sur via Tue Road– CLOSED

𝐓𝐎𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐨𝐟 𝟏𝟒 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃

"Thanks Mr Perlas, I am sure this information will be of use to some of our readers. Please feel free to share this information with anyone you know in or travelling to or through the area. One final question - is there anywhere people can go to for more information or any hashtags in twitter they can follow as the story develops?"

" Yes , sure Neil, they can follow

#iFelt_AbraEarthquake

#DPWHCARes

I will end where I started with a more recent picture of Bantay Watch Tower, taken as the earthquake struck and the video of which went viral on the social media.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the 5 people known to have been killed by the earthquake, the injured, and all those whose vehicles and property was damaged.