Thousands evacuated as signals raised

MANILA, Philippines — Thousands of people were evacuated, while classes and flights in many parts of Luzon were canceled until today as Typhoon Tisoy (international name Kammuri) barreled through the region.

Tisoy’s southern eyewall lashed Northern Samar yesterday afternoon with intense rains and violent winds. It was also expected to hit Sorsogon, Albay, Catanduanes and Camarines Sur.

Tisoy was expected to make landfall over the Albay-Sorsogon area last night or early today, according to Aldczar Aurelio, weather forecaster at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Aurelio warned Metro Manila residents of heavy to intense rains with gusty winds today.

However, he said massive flooding like the one brought by Tropical Storm Ondoy in September 2009 was not expected.

Ondoy was slower when it dumped heavy rains over Metro Manila, while Tisoy is moving fast. However, Tisoy is packing stronger winds than Ondoy, Aurelio said.

He said the eye of Tisoy was expected to pass near Metro Manila this afternoon.

“When the eye of the typhoon is in the area, this area could experience good weather, but once the eye passes, inclement weather will follow,” he said.

PAGASA warned of flooding and rain-induced landslides. It also warned of possible storm surges of more than three meters over several coastal areas in Catanduanes, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur, and up to three meters over several coastal areas in Albay, Batangas, Marinduque and Quezon.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the eye of Tisoy was spotted at 155 kilometers east of Juban, Sorsogon, packing winds of 155 kilometers per hpur near the center and gustiness of up to 190 kph.

It was moving west at 15 kph.

Aurelio said the tail-end of a cold front slightly slowed down the movement of the typhoon. It was no longer expected to intensify further.

He described Tisoy as a “behaved” cyclone as it is likely to maintain its track and move fast.

“We still consider a speed of 15 kph as fast,” he said.

Signal No. 3

As of 5 p.m., storm signal No. 3 was hoisted over Albay; Camarines Norte; Camarines Sur; Catanduanes; Sorsogon; Masbate, including Ticao and Burias Islands; Marinduque; Romblon and the southern portion of Quezon, including the towns of Agdangan, Alabat, Atimonan, Buenavista, Calauag, General Luna, Guinayangan, Gumaca, Lopez, Macalelon, Mulanay, Padre Burgos, Perez, Pitogo, Plaridel, Quezon, San Narciso, San Andres, San Francisco, Tagkawayan and Unisan.

Also under signal No. 3 were Northern Samar; northern portion of Eastern Samar, including Arteche, Can-avid, Dolores, Jipapad, Maslog, Oras and San Policarpio, and northern portion of Samar, including Almagro, Calbayog, Catbalogan, Gandara, Jiabong, Matuguinao, Motiong, Pagsanghan, Paranas, San Jose de Buan, San Jorge, Sta. Margarita, Sto. Niño, Tagapul-an and Tarangnan.

Apart from Metro Manila, signal No. 2 was raised over Bataan; Batangas; Bulacan; Cavite; Laguna; Pampanga; Rizal; Tarlac, southern Aurora, including the towns of Baler, Dingalan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora and San Luis; the rest of Quezon, including Calamian Islands, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro and Polillo Islands, and Zambales.

Other areas under signal No. 2 were the rest of Eastern Samar; rest of Samar; Biliran; Aklan; Capiz; Antique; Iloilo; northern portion of Negros Occidental, Northern Cebu, northern portion of Leyte and Guimaras.

Placed under signal No. 1 were the rest of Aurora, Benguet, Ifugao, Ilocos Sur, southern Isabela, La Union, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan and Quirino.

Other areas under signal No. 1 were the rest of Negros Occidental; Metro Cebu, rest of Leyte; Southern Leyte; Dinagat Islands and Siargao Island.

Between last night and this morning, frequent to continuous heavy to intense rains were expected over the Bicol region, Northern Samar, Southern Quezon, Marinduque and Romblon.

Frequent to continuous heavy rains continued over Samar, Eastern Samar, Rizal, rest of Quezon, Laguna and Oriental Mindoro, while moderate to intermittent heavy rains were expected over Metro Manila, Occidental Mindoro, rest of Calabarzon region, Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora and the rest of Eastern Visayas.

Between this morning and evening, frequent to continuous heavy to intense rains are forecast over Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Mindoro provinces, Marinduque and Romblon.

Occasional to frequent heavy rains will affect Calamian Islands, Cagayan Valley and the Cordilleras. Intermittent heavy rains will be experienced over Aklan, northern Antique and Capiz.

Aurelio said Tisoy is likely to make four landfalls before exiting to the West Philippine Sea.

It is likely to weaken after interacting with landmass, he added.

Stranded

More than 6,000 people have been stranded in four regions as sea travel was suspended due to strong winds and heavy rains brought by Tisoy.

As of noon yesterday, there were 6,070 people stranded in the Bicol region, Southern Tagalog, Eastern Visayas and Western Visayas.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) suspended operations of 1,290 rolling cargoes, 81 vessels and 24 motorized boats.

More than 220 vessels and 81 motorized boats as well as those anchored at Manila Bay were advised to seek shelter due to bad weather, PCG spokesman Capt. Armand Balilo said.

Only the ship’s crewmembers were required to remain on board. They were directed to inform the PCG station that has jurisdiction over the area where they are taking shelter.

Monitoring?Malacañang is closely monitoring the situation in areas that may be affected by Typhoon Tisoy and has urged the public to monitor weather updates. ?“The Office of the President is closely monitoring areas likely to be hit by Typhoon Tisoy,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said yesterday. ?“We ask the public, especially residents who will be affected by the typhoon, to stay vigilant, check the latest weather advisory in their respective areas through government social media accounts and coordinate with local disaster and risk reduction management offices for appropriate and responsive action,” Panelo said added.

Classes suspended

Local governments in Metro Manila, including Manila, Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Pasay and San Juan, suspended classes in all levels today in anticipation of Tisoy.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte shared a social media advisory posted on the city’s official Facebook account announcing the suspension of classes.

Classes are also suspended in Batangas, Cavite, Laguna and Quezon.

Five of six provinces and four cities in Eastern Visayas suspended classes and work yesterday.

The provincial government of Pampanga suspended classes in all levels as well as work in government offices effective at noon yesterday until today.

The city government of Angeles need not suspend classes as these have been cancelled to pave the way for the holding of the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the Clark freeport. Pampanga was placed under storm signal No. 2 yesterday.

In Negros Occidental, classes from nursery to high school were suspended in 11 cities and six towns.

Canceled flights

Forty-six flights of the Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific were cancelled due to Tisoy.

Passengers may opt to refund in full, rebook their tickets without penalties or store value in a travel fund.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said it is working closely with PAGASA, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Social Welfare and Development for disaster preparedness measures.

It assured the public that emergency equipment and goods for relief supplies are ready for deployment.

At least P586 million in quick response funds are available along with 299,489 food packs in addition to other food and non-food items.

Local government officials in areas to be hit by Tisoy are ordered not to leave their posts and personally oversee disaster management operations.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said that as head of their disaster risk reduction and management councils, the governors, mayors and barangay captains should be at their stations even before the typhoon hits.

On alert

Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Lt. Gen Archie Francisco Gamboa has placed on full alert status all its forces in Luzon and the Visayas to ensure availability of resources and personnel for disaster response operations.

The PNP Special Action Force, Maritime Group, Highway Patrol Group, Police Community Relations Group, Health Service and all regional and

provincial mobile forces were also placed on alert status.

Gamboa activated the national headquarters’ battle staff to ensure effective command and control of all police disaster response operations.

– With Evelyn Macairan, Alexis Romero, Michael Punongbayan, Emmanuel Tupas, Miriam Desacada, Ding Cervantes, Gilbert Bayoran, Rainier Allan Ronda, Rudy Santos, Non Alquitran, Ben Serrano