THE death toll from tropical depression “Maymay” increased to two yesterday with the retrieval of the body of a fisherman from Cagayan who was previously reported missing.
Also yesterday, a tropical depression entered the Philippine area of responsibility and was named “Neneng,” the country’s 14th tropical cyclone for this year and the second this month.
In a bulletin issued at 5 p.m. yesterday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Neneng might make landfall in the Babuyan Islands or Batanes.
“This tropical cyclone is forecast to move west southwestward in the next 24 hours before turning westward on Saturday while decelerating,” PAGASA said.
“By Sunday, it will begin to track west northwestward towards extreme northern Luzon. On the track forecast, Neneng will make landfall or may pass very close in Babuyan Islands or Batanes,” it added.
PAGASA said Neneng may bring heavy rains to northern Luzon starting tomorrow.
It said it may raise Signal No. 1 as early as this morning or afternoon in areas in the eastern portion of northern Luzon “in anticipation of winds or at least strong breeze to near gale strength associated with the approaching tropical cyclone.”
“Per latest track and intensity forecast, the most likely highest wind signal that will be hoisted is Wind Signal No. 2,” PAGASA also said.
PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said Neneng was forecast to intensify into tropical storm while approaching extreme northern Luzon. He said “rapid intensification” to either severe tropical storm or typhoon is not ruled out.
On the second fatality from Maymay, the Cagayan provincial disaster risk reduction office (PDRRO), said the fisherman’s cadaver was found in Gonzaga town in Cagayan.
Ruelie Rapsing, PDRRO head, said the fisherman, a resident of Sta Ana town, went fishing last Tuesday morning despite the issuance of gale warning and no-sail advisory due to Maymay.
The first reported fatality was also a fisherman from Buguey town who also went on fishing last Tuesday.
Cagayan has been experiencing rains since Monday, causing flooding in some 120 barangays in 15 towns in the province, affecting 4,657 families or about 17,000 individuals, said Rapsing.
Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, spokesman of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), said the two reported fatalities are still subject to validation.
Alejandro also reported a lower number of affected population — 1,857 families or 7,069 persons affected in Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon.
“In terms of damage, we have yet to get report but there are reported floodings in 112 areas,” said Alejandro.
“Most of these are in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), in Cagayan with 99 areas reported to be have been flooded. The others (flooded areas) are in CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region),” he said.
Alejandro said 102 municipalities in the Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon regions suspended classes yesterday.
Maymay weakened into a into a low pressure area (LPA), from a tropical depression, before making landfall in Aurora early morning yesterday.
Estareja said Maymay became an LPA at around 2 a.m. and made landfall an hour later.
“Maymay did not make landfall as a tropical depression. But it made landfall at around 3 a.m. as a low pressure area,” said Estareja said.
Estareja said PAGASA has two scenarios for the LPA, which was last reported in the vicinity of Casiguran, Aurora. One is it will dissipate while traversing the landmass late Thursday, and the other is that will emerge in the West Philippine Sea after surviving frictional effects.
PAGASA said the LPA will continue to bring moderate to heavy with at time intense rains in Cagayan, Isabela and Apayao until today. Meanwhile, light to moderate with at times heavy rains are expected in Cagayan Valley region and Cordillera Administrative Region.
