Luzon braces for howler

MANILA, Philippines – A super typhoon will hit Pangasinan tomorrow and bring heavy rains to Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Northern Luzon, the weather bureau said yesterday.

As of 2 p.m. yesterday, “Chan-Hom” was spotted some 550 kilometers west-southwest of Pangasinan, with maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 140 kph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Packing winds of 110 kilometers per hour, tropical storm Chan-Hom was hovering over the South China Sea around 700 kilometers west of Luzon yesterday, the latest Pagasa forecast said.

 “This weather disturbance is expected to enter over the western boundary of the country by tomorrow morning,” read the advisory from Pagasa.

The storm will be named “Emong” once it enters the country, said Pagasa administrator Prisco Nilo.

Nathaniel Cruz, Pagasa chief weather forecaster, said the northern and central parts of Luzon could bear the brunt of the storm, and that Metro Manila will experience heavy rains.

“It will grow stronger as it approaches the country,” he said.

Nilo said Chan-Hom was forecast to enter the Philippine area of responsibility last night or this morning.

“Emong would start to bring rains over Metro Manila on Thursday afternoon,” he said.

Heavy rains are expected over Metro Manila tomorrow, Nilo said.

Based on this forecast, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. has ordered the National Disaster Coordinating Center (NDCC) to activate its operations center.

With the operations center’s activation, the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, the military and police were immediately placed on standby for possible deployment of resources and personnel to typhoon-affected areas.

NDCC spokesman Anthony Golez warned people living along coastlines that they risk being swept away to sea by big waves, and that this early it is best to reinforce houses, especially roofs.

“If we need to evacuate, let’s do it now. We don’t want a repeat of what happened in Bicol (during typhoon ‘Dante’),” he said.

Golez said warnings and other relevant information have already been forwarded to the regional disaster coordinating centers in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Region, Central Luzon and Metro Manila.

“By now we expect these RDCCs to have activated their respective peace and order councils (POC) in order to inform and prepare the public on what to do before and during the landfall,” he said.

Golez said these POCs should have already advised local government units to identify all safe areas that would be used as evacuation centers.

“Upon landfall we expect strong winds, heavy rains, heavy flooding, landslides and storm surges,” he said. “We therefore urge residents living on flood and landslide prone areas to be ready for evacuation.” – With Jaime Laude