'Marce' moves away, has minimal impact

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical storm “Marce” (international name Gaemi) had minimal impact as it started to move away from the country yesterday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

“The damage to property was minimal. We do not know yet the damage to agriculture. Floods occurred in Bataan and Zambales but the storm did not have much impact,” NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos said.

Marce started to move away from the country but storm warning signal number one remains in Bataan and Zambales, the state weather bureau said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Marce slightly weakened while hovering over the West Philippine Sea.

The storm changed its course from south-southeast to west, sparing the country from a direct hit.

It was spotted at 200 west of Iba, Zambales at 4 p.m. yesterday, packing winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

Marce was moving westward slowly or away from the Philippine area of responsibility towards Vietnam.

PAGASA continued to warn residents in Bataan and Zambales against possible flashfloods and landslides.

The weather bureau said Marce would continue to bring heavy to intense rain (10 to 25 millimeters per hour) within its 400-km radius.

Fishing boats and other small seacraft were also advised not to venture out into the western seaboard of Luzon due to big waves generated by the storm.

Marce is expected to be 370 kms of Iba this afternoon and 580 kms of Iba or outside the country’s territory tomorrow.

The NDRRMC said a total of 4,000 people were evacuated because of the floods spawned by Marce, but most of them have returned to their homes.

Of this number, 2,000 were from Muntinlupa while the rest were from Bataan and Zambales. – With Helen Flores, Jaime Laude