CEBU, Philippines — At least four people were killed as Typhoon Rolly pounded the Philippines Sunday with authorities warning of "catastrophic" conditions in the hardest-hit regions where hundreds of thousands fled their homes.
The strongest typhoon of the year, so far, made landfall on Catanduanes Island before dawn with maximum sustained wind speeds of 225 kilometers (140 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 310 kilometers per hour, ripping off roofs, toppling trees, and triggering flash floods.
Rolly was downgraded from a "super typhoon" as it swept across the southern end of the most populous island Luzon towards the capital Manila, PAGASA said in an update Sunday afternoon.
"Catastrophic violent winds and intense to torrential rainfall" would hammer areas in the typhoon's path, including provinces near the capital, PAGASA warned.
"This a particularly dangerous situation for these areas," it said.
Rolly came a week after Typhoon Quinta hit the same region and killed 22 people.
At least four people, including a five-year-old, were killed in Albay province, Governor Alfrancis Bichara told a local radio station.
Two of the victims drowned while another was swept away by volcanic mud. The fourth was killed by a falling tree.
"The winds are fierce. We can hear the trees being pummeled. It's very strong," Francia Mae Borras, 21, told AFP from her home in the coastal city of Legazpi in Albay.
The roofs of two evacuation centers were torn off by the force of the wind and the occupants moved to the ground floors, the provincial public safety chief Cedric Daep told DZBB radio station.
"Flash floods inundated our villages," said Carlos Irwin Baldo, the mayor of Camalig, near Legazpi.
"Our roads have a lot of debris from the mountains such as branches and sand, some which came from Mayon (volcano). Some roads are unpassable."
So far, 346,993 people have been evacuated from their homes, Civil Defence chief Ricardo Jalad said.
In Manila, residents were evacuated from low-lying slum areas at risk of being inundated by several meters high storm surges. The city's airport was closed as the typhoon approaches.
Loud alarms blared from mobile phones as the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council issued an emergency alert warning of "very destructive to devastating" winds for Manila and surrounding provinces in the coming hours.
Thousands of soldiers and police were on standby to help with evacuations and rescue efforts. Disaster agencies spent Saturday marshalling vehicles, emergency response teams, and relief goods before the storm's arrival.
Cebu Situation
Storm signals were also raised in areas in the Visayas.
In Cebu, storm signal number 1 was raised early Sunday morning over local government units in the North, including San Remigio, Bogo City, Medellin, Daanbantayan, and Bantayan Island, which is home to the towns of Santa Fe, Bantayan, and Medridejos.
Strong winds were felt in these areas but no damage was reported. A Blue Alert Disaster Response Level was raised by all Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Rhee Telen Jr., spokesperson of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said no one had to be evacuated.
The storm signal was lifted Sunday afternoon.
"Mga 3 p.m., resumed na ang sea trips as per Coast Guard San Remigio (Sea trips resumed at 3 p.m. according to the Coast Guard)," Telen said.
Starting October 30, the PDRRMO started coordinating with the LDRRMOs in the North to put proactive measures in places.
"The LDRRMOs in the province are 24/7 on alert since yesterday (October 30, 2020) and ready ang equipment and resources in coordination sa PNP AFP and BFP," Telen said.
Bogo City, for one, installed alarms at coastal barangays to alert residents of the need to evacuate.
"Patingogon to namo ang alarm para mahibalo ang mga tawo nga kinahanglan na sila mobakwit (We will sound the alarms to inform residents they would need to evacuate)," said one of the city’s responders, Rexanne Ygot, Jr.
Victor Tancawan, disaster officer of Daanbantayan said they monitored the weather closely but did not have to implement pre-evacuation measures.
"Sa pagkakaron, wala tay reported nga damage, wala ray kusog nga hangin. Naa may hangin pero medyo hinay ra unya ulan-ulan gamay o taligsik. Murag karon, tin-aw tin-aw ang panahon," Tancawan said yesterday afternoon.
(No damage was reported. It was windy but the wind wasn’t that strong and it was only drizzling. By now, the weather has become clear.)
They, however, kept an eye on flood-prone barangays.
"Ang atong gi-monitor ang flooding area kining Barangay Malingin, Paypay, Tominjao, Lanao, and Poblacion then Aguho and Tapilon so mao ni ang low lying areas nga puwede magka-flooding but, so far, wala pa ka-experience og baha," Tancawan added.
(We monitored flood-prone barangays like Malingin, Paypay, Tominjao, Lanao, Poblacion, Aguho, and Tapilon. These are low-lying areas but not one of them were flooded.) — Philstar.com , JMO (FREEMAN)