Super typhoon “Lawin” makes landfall today

CEBU, Philippines - Super typhoon "Lawin" is expected to make landfall in northern Luzon today.

It has maintained its strength and is feared to bring as much devastation as super typhoon Yolanda three years ago.

PAGASA issued the following forecast positions yesterday afternoon:

24 hour (Thursday morning): 75 km west of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte

48 hour (Friday morning): 640 km west northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte (outside PAR)

72 hour (Saturday morning): 1,050 km northwest of Basco, Batanes (outside PAR)

96 hour (Sunday morning): 970 km north northwest of Basco, Batanes (outside PAR)

120 hour (Monday morning): 1,080 km north northeast of Basco, Batanes (outside PAR)

Lawin is expected to bring moderate to heavy rainfall within its 800-km diameter.

From the Cagayan-Isabela area, it is forecasted to cross Apayao and Ilocos Norte provinces also today.

Cancelled trips

While no storm signal was hoisted over Cebu, 11 sea trips were cancelled yesterday upon the discretion of the ship captains due to strong waves. 

"The captains are allowed to cancel their trips. It's the discretion of the captain since they know very well the stability or the seaworthiness of their ships," said Commander Agapito Bibat, head of the Cebu station of the Philippine Coast Guard.

Because of the cancellations, at least 38 passengers who were supposed to travel from Bogo City to Masbate City were stranded. The other vessels no longer issued tickets.    He said the head station in Cebu and its substations are on heightened alert and have readied floating assets for dispatch.

Response

Some personnel of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, too, are on standby for deployment to Northern Luzon once called to do so.

"Ni-signify na ta sa Regional Disaster Coordinating Council nga we have a team ready for deployment. Kun moingon sila nga ready your team within 12 hours, we will call dayon for a meeting kay the team nga atong ipadala would depend unsay immediate need sa Northern Luzon," said CCDRRMC head Nagiel Bañacia.

He said the disaster team is always on alert for any eventuality.

"They will inform us on what they need so that we can prepare the equipment and the logistics nga dalhon. Wala pa ta kahibaw kun pila ka employees, depende sa need nga ilang ipadala, putol ba og mga kahoy, or medical assistance ba, relief operations ba," Banacia said.

"We are on high alert to assist the northern Luzon," he added.

The typhoon will not hit Cebu directly but weather experts said earlier the Visayas may still experience raishowers and thunderstorms.

Because of this, Bañacia reminded residents to be ready. He said each family should have an emergency kit, which must contain medicines, foods, water, radio, clothes, among others.

"One way or another, we are prepared for any eventuality. The only thing is tinood nga wala ta naigo sa bagyong Lawin. However, it is important now for us to prepare maong balik og panghingusgan nga balik ang preparation sa family, sa household," he said.

He said it is important to educate the people to be proactive.

Mactan

Because Lawin carries with it strong winds, Lapu-Lapu City is also not taking chances.

"Strong winds ilaha kontra, vulnerable ang structure sa imo balay," said Andy Berame, officer-in-charge of the Lapu-Lapu City Disaster Risk Reduction Office.

The barangays most vulnerable to storm surges are Tingo and Baring in Olango Island and Ibo and Buaya in mainland Mactan.

Olango Island's surrounding islets of Caohagan, Pangan-an and Caubian are also vulnerable to strong winds, Berame said.

"Subsob ang monitor sa city and mu-check [sad ta] sa rainfall advisory. Maka-expect gyud ta ani og kuosg nga bawod or hangin ug uwan-uwan," Berame said.

Berame said the last time Lapu-Lapu was affected heavily by a storm during typhoon Ruping in 1990.

"After pila ka years, wala na. Ang northern part na sa Cebu ang maigo," he said.

"It's not necessary nga mo-deploy ta ug tawo kay maka-violate ta sa warning [sa Coast Guard]," he said.

He urged operators of motor banca and small boats to heed advisories from the Coast Guard and PAGASA.

In the event of flooding, Barangay Basak in Lapu-Lapu City is most vulnerable owing to the garbage that has clogged up its drainage system, Berame said. (FREEMAN)