Pagasa: 23 areas on ‘Crising’ alert

MANILA, Philippines - Twenty-three areas in Luzon and Mindanao were placed under storm warning signal no. 1 as tropical depression “Crising” made landfall over the southern part of Davao del Sur yesterday afternoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

Signal No. 1 was hoisted over southern Palawan, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Samal Island, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, the southern part of Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, North Cotabato, and Maguindanao as of 5 p.m.

Other areas under signal 1 were Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

The weather bureau said Crising is expected to make landfall in Basilan and southern Palawan before it exits the Philippine area of responsibility.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of Crising was spotted at 80 kilometers southwest of General Santos City with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometer per hour (kph). It was forecast to move west northwest at 24 kph.

Crising is predicted to be 250 km west of Zambonga City this afternoon and 500 km southwest of Puerto Princesa City tomorrow afternoon.

1 dead, thousands evacuated

One person died and close to 5,000 families were evacuated as Crising hit parts of Mindanao yesterday.

Liza Mazo, director of the Office of Civil Defense in Southern Mindanao, identified the fatality as Francisco Digaynon who drowned in New Bataan, Compostela Valley.

Authorities conducted preemptive evacuation in Davao City, Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental due to the overflowing Davao River.

“About 4,800 families were affected by Crising,” Mazo said.

Two persons were hurt in a landslide in Barangay Malasalug in Sapad, Lanao del Norte. They were identified as Maria Nacua, 20 and eight-year-old Dodong Nacua.

The bad weather prompted authorities to suspend classes in Bukidnon; Lanao del Norte; Oroquieta City, Tudela, Calamba, Lopez, Jaena, Alloran, Panaon and Ozamis City, all in Misamis Occidental; and Tandag, Bislig, Carmen, and Lingig in Butuan.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) warned residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under the public storm warning signal against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Naval forces were alerted for possible relief missions in the affected areas. Navy troops in eastern and western Mindanao have placed their rescue teams on standby.

The NDRRMC advised operators of fishing boats and other small vessels not to venture out into the northern and eastern seaboards of the country due to big waves generated by Crising.

Flights cancelled

Meanwhile, several domestic flights to Mindanao and the Visayas were cancelled yesterday due to the bad weather caused by Crising.

The Manila International Airport Authority said Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, AirPhil Express and Zest Air were forced to cancel or divert their flights.

Twelve domestic flights bound for Manila, Tagbilaran, Cagayan de Oro, Pagadian, Dumaguete, and Cagayan were cancelled.

Hundreds of passengers were stranded as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) suspended ship passage in areas affected by Crising.

PCG commandant Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena has ordered PCG personnel to coordinate with the NDRRMC for possible relief and rescue operations. – With Alexis Romero, Evelyn Macairan, Rudy Santos,Roel Pareño