To enter Philippines tomorrow morning Super typhoon threatens Cebu

CEBU, Philippines -  A super typhoon packing winds in excess of 150 kph, making it stronger than Typhoon Sendong, could threaten Cebu as it sets to enter the Philippine area of responsibility tomorrow morning.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) released early warnings on the tropical storm which will likely hit Visayas and Mindanao in the coming days.

Last night, the storm intensified into a typhoon and was expected to strengthen as it travels and accumulates water.

Kelly Torregoza of PAGASA Mactan said they are closely monitoring the movement  of  the  storm, which would be named “Pablo” when it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

Torregoza said the typhoon is expected to be strong since its center was located near latitude 4.3 degrees north, which is quite low compared to most typhoons.

Typhoon “Sendong” was near latitude 7 degrees north.

“Pablo” will enter the PAR early Monday morning but would not affect any region immediately since it is still far away, said Torregoza.

The typhoon will go through Eastern Mindanao, according to PAGASA.

The weather bureau’s last update showed that “Pablo” was moving west at 20 kph and packing maximum sustained winds of 165 kph and gustiness of up to 200 kph.

“Pablo” is expected to hit Eastern Visayas and Bicol Region but will bring moderate to heavy rains to the whole Visayas and Mindanao.

The storm has a size of 400 to 500 km in diameter.

Malacañan reminded local government units to closely monitor the updates from PAGASA and should also undertake precautions following the blue alert status raised by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.

NDRRMC Executive Director and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) administrator Benito Ramos said regional, provincial, city and municipal disaster responders in Western, Central, Eastern Visayas, as well as those in Regions 10, 11, 12 and the Caraga in Mindanao have started pre-positioning rescue units and rescue equipment as well as food supplies and medicines in flood-prone and landslide-prone places.

“Our local disaster responders are also ready for possible enforcement of force evacuations of residents residing along danger zone areas,” Ramos said.

Evacuations centers have also been identified to include schools, gymnasiums, churches and even cockpit arenas, he said.

“Huwag munang magsabong, unahin na muna natin itong paghahanda sa parating na bagyo dahil malakas ito kung tatama sa atin,” Ramos said.

Other concerned agencies like the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Education (DepEd), the military, police, Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) and the Coast Guard are now on standby in preparation for the storm.

“The NDRRMC Operations Center is on blue alert and is continuously monitoring weather bulletins, gale warnings, general flood advisories and 24-hour public weather forecasts,” Ramos said.

He said that once the storm enters the PAR, NDRRMC will immediately raise its alert status to red.

He added that the only thing that could alter “Pablo’s” course for now is the prevailing low-pressure area over northern Taiwan.  — With Philippine Star News Service/LPM (FREEMAN)