Glenda threatens Bicol; signal no. 1 in MM

MANILA, Philippines - The state weather bureau yesterday placed several areas, including Metro Manila, under storm warning signals as Tropical Storm Glenda (international name Rammasun) continued to intensify as it headed toward the Bicol Region.

Jori Loiz, senior weather forecaster of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said Glenda intensified further and slightly changed track yesterday afternoon due to a high-pressure area north of Luzon.

Loiz said the storm was expected to make landfall over Albay between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. today, bringing heavy rains and gusty winds.

Glenda was earlier forecast to make landfall over Virac, Catanduanes.

At 5 p.m. yesterday, PAGASA raised signal no. 3 over Virac.

Under signal no. 3, winds of 101 to 185 kilometers per hour are expected in the area within 18 hours.

Signal no. 2 was hoisted over Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate including Burias Island and Ticao Islands, Albay, Sorsogon, Marinduque, Southern Quezon and Northern Samar.

Winds of 61 to 100 kph are expected in at least 24 hours under signal no. 2.

Areas under signal no. 1 were Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Lubang Island, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Southern Aurora, Northern Quezon, including Polillo Island, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran and Metro Manila.

Winds of 30 to 60 kph are expected in at least 36 hours in areas under signal no. 1.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of Glenda was spotted at 470 kilometers east southeast of Virac, Catanduanes or 500 km east of Legazpi City, Albay with maximum sustained winds of 110 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 140 kph.

Glenda was forecast to move westward at 30 kph.

It is expected to be in the vicinity of Ligao City, Albay this afternoon.

Loiz said Glenda was projected to cross Metro Manila early tomorrow morning. He said strong winds are likely to affect the capital.

It is predicted to be 90 km west northwest of Iba, Zambales by tomorrow afternoon.

By Thursday morning, it is expected to be 500 km west of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

Glenda was expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday.

Class suspension

Classes in all levels in both public and private schools in Camarines Sur are suspended today due to expected inclement weather.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) yesterday said more than 700 people have been reported stranded in the provinces of Albay and Sorsogon as Glenda moved closer to the country.

As of 10 a.m. yesterday, PCG data showed there were 762 people waiting at ports: 349 in Tabaco, Albay and 80 in Bulan, 33 in Pilar, and 300 in Matnog, all in Sorsogon.

Thirteen ships and seven motorized boats were also stranded.

900 barangays landslide-prone

Disaster management officials yesterday said more than 900 barangays are susceptible to landslides, while close to 4,000 others are vulnerable to floods because of Glenda.

Lilian Rollan, officer-in-charge of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)’s Lands Geological Survey Division, said 359 barangays under public storm signal no. 2 and 575 others under public storm signal no. 1 are highly susceptible to landslides.

She said 1,117 barangays under public storm signal no. 2 and 2,841 others under public storm signal no. 1 are vulnerable to floods. Non Alquitran, Mike Frialde, Rainier Allan Ronda, Alexis Romero, Celso Amo