The city government announced the closure of the tourist spot, where Calle Crisologo and many souvenir shops are located, tonight, Wednesday, July 27, in its Facebook page, hours after a magnitude-7 earthquake rocked nearby Abra.
It also announced that the following streets are also closed indefinitely as a result of the earthquake.
These streets are either in the Heritage District or lead to the area.
- A. Reyes corner Liberation Blvd.
- Liberation Blvd. corner Plaridel St.
- Crisologo St. corner Silang St.
- A. Reyes corner Abaya St.
- Quirino Blvd. corner Liberation Blvd.
- Mabini St. corner Quirino Blvd.
- Quirino Blvd. corner Salcedo St.
- Gen. Luna St. corner Quirino Blvd.
- Gen. Luna St. corner V. delos Reyes St.
- Encarnacion St. corner V. delos Reyes St.
- Plaridel St. corner Bonifacio St.
- Gen. Luna corner A. Reyes St.
Power and Wi-Fi signal have been restored and a bus company servicing Vigan, said trips from Metro Manila are available.
Free calls are being offered by telecommunications company Smart at the Northern Alliance Trading, 3rd Floor, UNP Town Center, Tamag, Vigan and Candon City PD Office at the corner of Gaerlan and Abaya Sts., San Isidro.
Earlier in the day, Vigan City Mayor Jose "Bonito" Singson Jr. indefinitely suspended classes and work in the public and private sector.
Singson advised residents and tourists to refrain from returning to their houses and establishments, especially those in ancestral houses and buildings due to aftershocks.
Candon City also suspended work in government offices and classes on all levels in public and private schools because of the earthquake.
City government departments involved in critical emergency services are fully operational.
Residents were told to inspect their homes for damages and be on the alert for aftershocks.