BABUYAN Islands in Cagayan was placed under storm Signal No. 5 and scores of other areas under lower signal warnings as typhoon “Egay” intensified into a super typhoon yesterday morning.
Metro Manila is among 20 areas placed under Signal No. 1.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Egay may make landfall in the Babuyan Islands-northeastern mainland Cagayan area. Egay was forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday.
As of 7 p.m. yesterday, the center of Egay was some 135 km east northeast of Aparri, Cagayan. It was moving northwestward at 15 kph, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph.
PAGASA, in an 8 p.m. bulletin, also said Egay was forecast to move west northwestward in the next 24 hours before turning generally northwestward and cross the Luzon Strait.
“On the track forecast, it is forecast to make landfall or pass very close to Babuyan Islands-northeastern mainland Cagayan area between late evening today (Tuesday) and tomorrow (Wednesday) morning,” said PAGASA.
“Slight northward or southward shift in this segment of the track (but within the forecast confidence cone) may result in a landfall or close approach over northern mainland Cagayan or Batanes,” PAGASA added.
PAGASA placed one area under Signal No. 4 — northern portion of Cagayan. Seven others were placed under Signal No. 3 — northeastern portion of Isabela, rest of Cagayan, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, northern portions of Kalinga, Batanes and northern portion of Abra.
Under Signal No 2. were 11 areas. These are the rest of Isabela, northern and central portions of Aurora, Quirino, rest of Kalinga, northeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, Ilocos Sur, rest of Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, northern portion of Benguet, and northern portion of La Union.
The 20 areas placed under Signal No. 1, aside from Metro Manila, were northern and central portion of Quezon (including Polillo Islands), rest of Aurora, rest of Nueva Vizcaya, rest of Benguet, rest of La Union, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Zambales, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Camarines Norte, northern portion of Camarines Sur, northern portion of Catanduanes, and northern portion of Batangas
“Most residential and institutional buildings of mixed construction may be severely damaged,” PAGASA said, referring to the impact of winds in an area under Signal No. 5.
It said electrical power distribution and communication services may also be disrupted, signboards or billboards may be blown down, tall trees may be uprooted, and banana plantations may be also damaged.
“The situation is potentially very destructive to the community. All travels and outdoor activities should be cancelled,” PAGASA said.
“Evacuation to safer shelters should have been completed since it may be too late under this situation,” PAGASA also said.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 4,554 families or 16,888 individuals in the Ilocos, Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas and Northern Mindanao regions have been affected by Egay and the southwest monsoon which is being enhanced by the tropical cyclone.
Of the number, only 12 families or 62 individuals were displaced as of yesterday morning.
The NDRRMC said one was reported injured in Western Visayas. The victim was hit by falling rocks in Aklan last Monday.
The provinces of Cagayan and Isabela have evacuated residents from areas that are susceptible to flooding and rain-induced landslides.
Rueli Rapsing, chief of the Cagayan provincial disaster risk reduction and management office, said residents in coastal barangays in 10 northern municipalities of Cagayan were being evacuated as of yesterday morning.
He could not immediately say the number of residents so far evacuated and the number of residents they were eyeing to evacuate.
Rapsing said food and non-food items have been already prepositioned, ready to be distributed to those who will be affected by Egay.
Families from four Isabela towns were also being evacuated due to gale warning storm surge warnings, said Constante Foronda, chief of the Isabela provincial risk reduction and management office.
Foronda said 21 families have been evacuated as of yesterday morning.
“It’s just a proactive measure due to storm surge and gale warning,” Foronda said.
Foronda also said water search and rescue teams have been deployed to areas in Isabela that are most likely be affected by Egay.
In Palawan, Philippine Coast Guard personnel evacuated residents, including senior citizens and children, in Barangay Bacungan in Puerto Princesa City yesterday due floods.
“They were brought to an evacuation center so they can receive additional assistance from the local government,” it said without giving figures.
The Cagayan provincial disaster risk reduction and management office said power outages were reported in the towns of Baggao, Santa Teresita, Gonzaga, Sta Ana and Buguey as of 3 p.m. yesterday.
It also said 100 families or 355 individuals were already affected in the towns of Alcala, Lal-lo, Santa Ana, Buguey and Gonzaga.
Of the number, 68 eight families or 240 individuals have been displaced.
The Philippine Coast Guard said 11,100 passengers, truck drivers, and cargo helpers were stranded due to suspension of sea travel in Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Southern Tagalog, Metro Manila, and Central Luzon regions due to Egay as of noon yesterday.
The PCG said 73 vessels, 2,030 rolling cargoes and 27 are likewise stranded.
It said 111 vessels and 67 motor bancas are also taking shelter in these areas.
