Tropical Depression Amang: Classes suspended, evacuation ordered

MANILA, Philippines — The provincial government of Albay ordered yesterday the evacuation of residents in vulnerable areas and suspended classes in all levels today due to expected heavy rains from Tropical Depression Amang.

Classes were also suspended today in all levels in both public and private schools in Camarines Sur.

In an advisory, the Albay Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said residents should avoid river channels and Mayon Volcano gullies.

Cedric Daep, chief of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office, said they would monitor the amount of rainfall to determine if more evacuations due to threats of landslides should be ordered.

“We will have an hourly monitoring to know whether the amount of rainfall has reached the newly adopted threshold of 130 millimeters,” Daep told The STAR.

No official number of evacuees was released as of yesterday.

Amang, the first cyclone to enter the Philippines this year, was forecast to make landfall over Surigao del Norte from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. yesterday.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, tropical cyclone warning signal number 1 was hoisted over Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Eastern Bohol, Northern Cebu, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat group of islands and Camiguin. 

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the center of Amang was spotted at 165 kilometers east-northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur or 280 kms east-southeast of Surigao City as of 10 a.m. yesterday. 

The weather system packed winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 60 kph. 

Amang was forecast to  move west-northwest at a speed of 30 kph. 

Ahead of its landfall, Amang dumped moderate to heavy rains over Caraga, Northern Mindanao and Eastern Visayas, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Northern Negros, Northern Cebu and Bohol. 

PAGASA weather specialist Ariel Rojas said flooding was reported in some low-lying areas.

Amang will continue to bring moderate to heavy rains over Eastern Visayas, Bicol and Dinagat islands today while moderate to heavy rains would persist over Eastern Visayas and Bicol provinces tomorrow.

The weather bureau said residents, especially those in areas at high risk of flooding and landslides, should be on alert. 

Amang was projected to be in the vicinity of Barugo, Leyte this afternoon and at 60 kms northeast of Lapu-Lapu, Cebu tomorrow afternoon.