MANILA -- Eight people, mostly teenagers, were swept by a river in Baguio City as typhoon “Pepeng” brought lots of rain on northern Luzon on Saturday.

ABS-CBN correspondent Pia Gutierrez reported that 8 victims were swept away by raging waters of the Balili River in barangay Trancoville.

She said the victims were apparently living under the Magsaysay Bridge, and they were swept by the current when the water level started to rise Saturday afternoon.

Rescue teams were able to immediately retrieve 7 of them. However, 18-year-old Jericho Rimando remained missing.

Heavy rains and strong winds were felt in Baguio City starting Saturday morning taking most residents by surprise.

Benguet and the nearby provinces of Kalinga and Apayao, meanwhile, took preventive evacuations to avoid casualties.

Local government units and other agencies earlier declared readiness to respond to emergencies bought about by Pepeng.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) prepared at least 2,000 family packs for evacuees.

The Department of Health also had medicines and medical supplies on stand by.