Storm signal 4 up in Cagayan

MANILA, Philippines - Storm warning signal no. 4 was raised over northern Cagayan yesterday afternoon as typhoon “Mina” (international name Nanmadol) continued to intensify as it moved closer to Northern Luzon, the state weather bureau said.

The heavy rains brought by the typhoon yesterday also brought the water level at Magat Dam in the Isabela-Ifugao area near critical level.

Signal no. 3 was hoisted over Isabela and the rest of Cagayan, as well as Calayan, Babuyan and Batanes group of islands. Northern Aurora, Quirino, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Kalinga and Apayao were placed under storm signal no. 2 while the rest of Aurora, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte and Abra were placed under signal no. 1.

Officials of Magat Dam announced they have released water from the dam at 200 cubic meters per second as a “precautionary measure” against possible overflowing and to accommodate the heavy volume of water from the rains brought about by typhoon Mina.

Disaster officials also evacuated 13 families from the coastal town of Macunacon, Isabela as a precautionary measure.

The Cagayan Valley’s Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) also warned residents living along riverbanks and mountain areas of possible flashfloods and landslides as rains continued to pour in the region.

As of 1 p.m. yesterday, water at the Magat Dam was at 190.72 meters, only around three meters below the critical level of 193 meters or five meters short of the spilling level.

Dam officials said they would be forced to release excess water from the dam’s reservoirs if the level reaches critical point, threatening to flood low-lying areas along the river.

RDRRMC chairperson and Office of Civil Defense regional director Norma Talosig said they have already issued advisories to local government units that would be affected by flooding.

“We advised provincial, municipal and even barangay disaster councils to implement preemptive evacuation within their level if necessary to attain zero casualties,” Talosig said.

Reports said the possible swelling of the Cagayan River due to heavy rains brought by the typhoon since Thursday could flood Isabela’s northern towns and Cagayan’s southern areas, including Tuguegarao City.

Classes in all levels in Cagayan and Isabela were suspended yesterday as a higher storm signal was hoisted over the two provinces.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), as of 4 p.m. yesterday the eye of Mina was spotted at 150 kilometers east-northeast of Casiguran, Aurora with maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph.

Mina was moving northwest slowly at nine kph.

PAGASA weather division chief Robert Sawi said residents of northern Luzon were expected to experience stormy weather starting last night.

Mina is expected to be 150 kms northeast of Tuguegarao City by this afternoon and 50 kms north of Basco, Batanes by tomorrow afternoon. By Monday afternoon, the howler would be 250 kms north of Basco.

Sawi said Mina’s interaction with a tropical storm east of the Philippines and a high pressure area over Taiwan were causing the typhoon’s slow movement.

Although no storm signals were raised over southern and central Luzon as well as Metro Manila, Sawi said these areas would still experience heavy rains today due to the enhanced southwest monsoon.

Sawi warned residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signals, southern Luzon and the Visayas against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Likewise, those living in coastal areas are alerted against big waves or storm surges.

PAGASA administrator Nathaniel Servando said residents in northern Cagayan could experience strong winds with speeds that could reach 195 kph in the next 12 hours.

He warned winds of such power could topple big trees and damage structures made of light materials.

Servando said most parts of Luzon are expected to receive rains due to the large size of the typhoon, which has a diameter of 600 kms.

The monsoon rains induced by Mina also affected more than 8,284 residents in four towns in southern Negros Occidental.

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office said 5,260 people were affected in six barangays of Binalbagan; 749 in three barangays in Isabela; 319 in three barangays in Moises Padilla town; and 1,956 in five barangays in Ilog town.

Two fishermen were reported missing yesterday in the rough waters off Catanduanes and La Union.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council identified the two missing fishermen as Nelson Vergara, of Barangay Poblacion, Baras, Catanduanes and Fred Nantes of Luna, La Union.

The Coast Guard also ordered the suspension of ferry services for the island town of Camiguin, Cagayan and the coastal town of Maconacon, Isabela.

In Cauayan City, the delegation led by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala was forced to spend the night after being caught in heavy rain.

Alcala arrived in Cauayan City for a two-day visit of projects implemented by the government’s convergence program.

Domestic flights were also suspended yesterday due to the worsening weather.

The suspended flights included Cebu Pacific flights 5J893/892 Manila-Caticlan-Manila, 5J894 from Caticlan to Manila, and Airphil Express flights 2P015/014 Manila-Tuguegarao-Manila.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development has allocated P21.16 million in standby funds and relief supplies for all its regional field offices along the path of the typhoon.

The Philippine National Police, for its part, activated its National Disaster Operation Center yesterday for search and rescue operations. - With Charlie Lagasca, Raymund Catindig, Rudy Santos, Jaime Laude, Danny Dangcalan, Cecille Suerte Felipe, AP