Bising keeps strength, leaves 2 dead, 1 missing

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Bising continued to bring rains and gusty winds over the eastern section of Luzon as it moved north-northwest yesterday, the state weather bureau said.

The death toll due to the typhoon rose to two while one was reported missing.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the latest fatality is a 47-year-old woman from Catmon, Cebu.

A 79-year-old resident of St. Bernard, Southern Leyte died on Sunday after he was pinned under an uprooted tree.

A 40-year-old man from San Jose, Northern Samar was reported missing.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 was raised over the eastern portion of Cagayan and Isabela and northern portion of Aurora and  Catanduanes at 5 p.m. yesterday.

Signal No. 1 was raised over Batanes; the rest of Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands; the rest of Isabela, Quirino and Apayao; eastern portion of Mountain Province and Ifugao; northeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, central portion of Aurora and eastern portion of Quezon, including Polillo Islands; Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur.

As of 4 p.m., the eye of the typhoon was located 475 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora, packing winds of 175 kms per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 215 kph.

PAGASA said Bising is forecast to move generally north or north-northwest until tomorrow morning or afternoon.

The typhoon is projected to move northeast and away from the landmass of Luzon until Friday and east-northeast throughout the remaining forecast period.

It is forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Sunday morning.

PAGASA said Bising could weaken throughout the forecast period and may be downgraded to severe tropical storm by Saturday night or early Sunday.

Very rough seas

The agency warned the public against very rough seas (4.5 to 10 meters) over the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon and rough to high seas (three to seven meters) over the northern and eastern seaboards of Eastern Visayas.

Rough to very rough seas (2.8 to 4.5 meters) will also prevail over the western seaboards of Northern Luzon and rough seas (2.5 to four meters) over the eastern seaboards of Caraga and Davao Oriental and the remaining seaboards of areas under wind signals.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said moderate to rough seas (1.2 to three meters) would prevail over the western seaboard of Central Luzon.

P45.9-M agri damage

Damage to agriculture due to the typhoon was initially pegged at P45.93 million, data from the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Operation Center showed.

At least 765 farmers and 1,599 hectares of land in Bicol and Eastern Visayas were affected by the typhoon as of 2 p.m. yesterday. The volume of production loss was at 3,009 metric tons.

Before Bising entered the Philippine area of responsibility, the DA said 14,589 hectares of rice fields or 59,543 MT worth P1.08 billion were harvested in Bicol, Eastern Visayas and Caraga. – Michael Punongbayan, Catherine Talavera