Christmas typhoon slams east Visayas

MANILA, Philippines — Christmas storm Ursula intensified into a typhoon as it moved closer to Eastern Samar, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Ursula made landfall in Salcedo, Eastern Samar at 4:45 p.m. yesterday, PAGASA senior weather specialist Chris Perez said.

More than 20,000 passengers were stranded in several ports in the country due to rains spawned by Ursula (international name Phanfone).

Perez said the storm’s outer rain band started bringing heavy downpours over Eastern Visayas, Caraga and parts of the Bicol region before noon.

It will also affect the rest of the Visayas, southern Luzon and northern Mindanao within the next 24 hours.

PAGASA spotted the center of Ursula at 95 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar as of 1 p.m., with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

It was forecast to move west at a speed of 20 kph.

As of 2 p.m., storm signal No. 3 was hoisted over Northern Samar, Eastern Samar,
Biliran, Leyte and Camotes Island.  

Signal No. 2 was up over the southern portion of Quezon, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island, Romblon, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate including Burias and Ticao Islands, extreme northern Cebu including Bantayan, northeastern Iloilo, northern Antique, Capiz, Aklan, Southern Leyte, extreme Northern Negros Occidental and Dinagat Islands. 

Signal No. 1 was raised over Metro Manila, Bulacan, Bataan, Rizal, Cavite, rest of Quezon, Laguna, Batangas, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, northern Palawan, Calamian Islands, Cuyo Island, the rest of northern Cebu, Central Cebu, northeastern Bohol, the rest of Antique, the rest of Iloilo, Guimaras, northern Negros Occidental, northern Negros Oriental, Surigao del Norte, including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands. 

Occasional to frequent heavy rains will prevail over Dinagat Islands, Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands, Eastern Visayas, Sorsogon, Masbate, northern and central Cebu, northern Negros provinces, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras and Romblon. Light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains are forecast over the rest of Bicol region, Quezon, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro and the rest of the Visayas and Surigao del Norte until this afternoon. 

Between noon and late evening today, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Romblon, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Batangas and Calamian Islands will experience occasional to frequent heavy rains.

Light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains are predicted over Cuyo Islands, Negros, Iloilo, Guimaras, Aurora and the rest of Calabarzon.

Perez said Ursula was forecast to bring damaging winds and heavy rains in areas under signal No. 3 starting yesterday afternoon until today.

“We ask the public, especially in the Visayas, to limit their festivities,” Perez said.

He said areas under signal No. 1 could also expect rains and gusty winds within the next 36 hours.

“We don’t see evidence of inclement weather now but within 36 hours we can experience gusty winds and rains as Ursula approaches landmass of Eastern Visayas,” Perez said at a press conference.

“In the next 24 to 48 hours, Ursula will cross the Visayas and Southern Luzon area,” he said.

Suspension of maritime activities may be experienced in areas under tropical cyclone wind signals, he added.

Sea travel is risky over the eastern seaboards of the country, inland waters of Southern Luzon and the Visayas and over the western seaboards of Southern Luzon.

Ursula, the country’s 21st tropical cyclone this year, was forecast to exit landmass Thursday and out of the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday.

Stranded

More than 20,000 passengers were stranded as Ursula moved closer to Eastern Visayas yesterday. 

At least 16,649 passengers were stranded in all major ports in Bicol region, Southern Tagalog, the Visayas and in Metro Manila, including 8,321 in Matnog, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Capt. Armand Balilo said. 

Balilo said the operations of 1,896 rolling cargoes, 96 vessels and 15 motor bancas were temporarily suspended due to bad sea conditions.

“All PCG units are ordered to strictly implement the guidelines on the movement of vessels during heavy weather to ensure the safety of lives and property,” Balilo said. 

A few days before Ursula entered the Philippine area of responsibility, the PCG intensified its monitoring efforts to ensure the safety of Filipinos traveling to the provinces. 

Balilo said they implemented a “no day off, no leave” policy to ensure sufficient deployment of personnel at all ports. 

Citing a recent nationwide monitoring report, the PCG recorded the total number of outbound passengers at 8,746.

Of the figure, 958 are in Central Visayas, 958 in Southern Cebu, 25 in Western Visayas and 25 in Guimaras. 

The PCG reported 411 passengers stranded in Southeastern Mindanao, 100 in General Santos City, 311 in Igacos, 6,477 in Northern Mindanao, 2,238 in Misamis Occidental, 3,200 Lanao del Norte and 1,039 in Misamis Oriental. 

Balilo reminded passengers to remain vigilant and comply with safety and security measures at all port terminals and vessels in the country. 

Brace for landslides, flash floods

Residents living along the projected path of Ursula have been told to brace for possible landslides and flash floods.

More that 2,900 landslide- and 3,652 flashflood-prone barangays in the country’s seven regions are expected to experience a wet Christmas due to Ursula, according to National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) director Ricardo Jalad.

These regions include Bicol, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Caraga, Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), Eastern and Western Visayas and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Recently, these seven areas experienced severe flooding and landslides due to Tropical Storm Tisoy as well as devastation from a series of powerful earthquakes, particularly in Caraga and Davao region.

Residents in these areas have been advised to monitor tension cracks, fractured rocks and sediments, sliding slopes and active slides, and soil overburden, which are common signs of an impending landslide.

Residents in low-lying areas or near riverbanks who experience prolonged rainfall should exercise caution and monitor the level of water.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development has prepared 259,975 family food packs across its 17 field offices or in nearby areas that are seen to be affected by the storm.

Non-food relief items amounting to P612 million are stored in field offices to ensure distribution when the need arises.  – With Jaime Laude, Robertzon Ramirez