Spanish-era watchtower in La Union partly collapsed due to Lando

A Spanish-built watchtower in Luna, La Union partly collapsed during the onslaught of Typhoon Lando last week.

Curator Racquel Flores of the Cultural Properties Division of the National Museum confirmed this to GMA News Online on Thursday.

Mayor Victor Marvin Marron sent a pre-assessment report on the baluarte to the National Museum for validation. According to Flores, a technical team has been sent to the site to measure the extent of the damage. The assessment is still ongoing as of posting time.

Flores added that the National Museum has ordered the local government of La Union to fence off the area to save as much debris from the structure as possible.

The watchtower was built by the Spaniards to warn residents of Japanese, Chinese, and Moro pirates and other dangers from the sea. Before Lando, erosion of its foundation had already broken the structure in half. It sits on a pebbled beach near a coastal community.

The Luna watchtower has been a favorite destination among tourists to La Union. Photo taken May 2015.

Even before Lando hit, the watchtower was already in bad shape. One half of the broken baluarte leant towards the sea with only a few concrete slabs supporting it.

La Union was one of the most affected provinces during the onslaught of Typhoon Lando.

More than 15 meters of the seawall in Barangay Ilocanos, San Fernando City was damaged after it was battered by strong waves. — BM, GMA News