Firefighters battling a brush fire that broke out in the Santa Ana River bottom, burning 39 acres before its progress was stopped, have reached 99% containment of the blaze, authorities said Saturday.

The Cagayan River, the country's longest, overflowed, flooding communities in Aparri, Lal-lo, Amulung, Allacapan, Sta. Ana, Gonzaga and Solana towns. In Tuguegarao City, 21 villages were under ...