Passengers, vessels stranded due to Tropical Depression 'Lannie'

CEBU, Philippines —  At least 208 passengers, 174 rolling cargoes, and 44 vessels were stranded in Cebu, Bohol, and Negros Oriental on Monday, October 4, 2021, as tropical depression “Lannie” made landfall in two areas in Central Visayas – in San Fernando, Cebu at 1:45 p.m. and in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental at 3:30 p.m.

In Cebu Province alone, 125 passengers bound for Bantayan Island were stranded at the Hagnaya Port in San Remigio town.

In Tabuelan, 30 trucks, seven (7) cargo vessels, and 21 individuals were also stranded.

In Danao City, 20 travelers were not able to cross to Camotes Islands while 19 other travelers bound for Negros Island were stranded at the Tangil Port in Dumanjug town.

Lannie made landfall eight times as of 7 p.m. Monday as it was crossing the Philippines.

Cebu, for one, was placed under signal number one based on PAGASA’s Tropical Cyclone Bulletin No. 5 issued at 5 p.m. yesterday.

The Coast Guard Station Central Cebu suspended trips of all vessels and watercrafts, which caused passengers and cargoes getting stranded. At least four vessels and a motor banca had to take shelter.

Based on data available yesterday, PAGASA said the center of Lannie was estimated to be at the vicinity of Guihulngan, Negros Oriental (10.1°N, 123.2°E).

Lannie has maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 55 km/h. Light to moderate with, at times, heavy rains are possible over CALABARZON, Bicol Region, Mindanao, and the rest of the Visayas.

Under these conditions, PAGASA said scattered flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides, are possible, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps.

The weather bureau added that strong winds with occasional gusts will be experienced within any of the areas where Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal #1 is in effect during the passage of the tropical depression.

This may generally cause up to very light damage to structures and vegetation, it said.

Forecast

On the forecast track, the tropical depression will move generally west northwestward over the Visayas archipelago before emerging over the Sulu Sea and cross the Cuyo archipelago.

Afterwards, the depression may make another landfall in the vicinity of northern Palawan or Calamian Islands this morning.

It will then emerge over the West Philippine Sea a couple of hours later.

Throughout this entire period, TD Lannie is forecast to remain within tropical depression category, with a possibility of slight intensification once over the Sulu Sea or West Philippine Sea.

“By late Tuesday through early Thursday morning, Lannie is forecast to move generally northwestward over the West Philippine Sea. Improvement in environmental conditions will allow the depression to intensify. It may likely be upgraded into a tropical storm by Tuesday evening or Wednesday early morning,” the weather bureau stated.

The said weather disturbance is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday morning.

Outside the PAR, the cyclone is forecast to turn more north northwestward while heading towards southern mainland China. It will continue intensifying during this period and may reach severe tropical storm category by Friday.

Cebu City

Over the weekend, flooding and landslides were noted in different areas in Cebu City due to heavy rainfall, said Ramil Ayuman, head of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO)

At least 15 areas in Cebu City experienced flooding, mostly in the South District. Landslide reported in the mountain barangays of Buhisan, Pulangbato, Sinsin, and Sirao.

“Ang Pulangbato, motor ray kaagian but ni-coordinate na ta karon sa engineering. Ang Sirao, angay pud natong tan-awn kay ang yuta didto, nilihok as reported by our barangay responders,” Ayuman said.

In Buhisan, a van parked by the road almost fell off the cliff after a portion of the riprap collapsed on Sunday, October 3. Residents showed the Bayanihan spirit and caught the vehicle in time.

Ayuman said the City Engineering Department already sent an inspection team to the area to have the riprap fixed.

“Uwan ra gyud to, kalit ra gyud to. Right now, ang barangay nag-taking care na ana. Atong gibuhat ron, recovery nalang sa portion nga katong nahulog ba katong naay riprap, mao toy gipadala nato nga mapaayo siya,” Ayuman said.

Councilor Jerry Guardo said that based on inspection, the riprap used “stone masonry” and needed to be reconstructed immediately under a more solid design.

“So, ang atong gamiton didto is i-solid nato kay ang current man gud nakita nato didto is stone masonry so pagkabigay na, naa nay scouring didto sa ilawom mao to nagkuan gyud, direct man gud ang impact gikan sa sapa, mao to siya’y directly nga na-hit sa impact, mao to ni-scour didto pagkuan… mao to, ni-cave in dayon so ang atoang design sa engineering nato nga isulod nato ang pagbuhos para mas well protected gyud atong mga yuta,” Guardo said.

A riprap at the White Road in Inayawan also collapsed. The barangay captain said the has already reported the incident to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DWPH).

In Pulangbato, a team from the city had to clear an area from a landslide.

Ayuman said CCDRRMO personnel are ready and the city’s heavy equipment have been positioned in mountain barangays.

He called on the public to be vigilant as rain continues to pour.

Guardo, Ayuman, and personnel from other concerned departments in the city met yesterday to fast track the clearing of 39 structures along the Kinalumsan Bridge near Gaisano Jai Alai.

“Biggest challenge gyud ning sa Kinalumsan River. Every time mag-uwan, mag-flooding labing gahi kaayo diha ang Kinalumsan... bisan unsaon namo’g baglong nga panghawa, dili gyud manghawa,” Ayuman said.

Ayuman said it is high time that the residents will be relocated.

“It’s high time. Dapat gyud ibalhin na sa labing dali’ng panahon... dili ta maghuwat nga naay mamatay anang lugara gyud,” he said.

In addition, he asked the City Council to pass an ordinance regulating trekking and other activities at waterfalls in Cebu City, citing the incident in Catmon town where three people died at a waterfall due to a flashflood.

He said they received reports of individuals who still went swimming at the Tinisig-Uwang Falls in Budlaan even with the bad weather. They also brought with them alcoholic drinks.

“Maybe, the City Council can also come up with an ordinance concerning aning falls. We do not want the incident in Catmon to happen here,” Ayuman said.

Province

Aside from the landslide that hit Barangay Jaclupan in Talisay city where three houses were affected, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) received no other report of major untoward incidents caused by Lannie.

Vehicles were not allowed to pass through Kampo 4 going to Barangay Manipis because of the landslide that hit these areas.

Another landslide was reported in Purok 7, Barangay Tapul a mountain barangay in the city.

In neighboring Minglanilla, a riprap collapsed at Deca Homes Phase 4 in Barangay Tungkil. The area was cordoned and the Minglanilla Rescue team recommended the closure of the back gate of the subdivision to minimize the number of vehicles crossing the bridge and to prevent additional load that may trigger vibration in the area.

The town’s rescue team also removed falling objects near the river that disrupted the flow of water. - Caecent No-ot Magsumbol and Decemay P. Padilla and Le Phyllis F. Antojado, JMO (FREEMAN)