“NIKA” made landfall in Aurora yesterday, hours after intensifying into a typhoon, as a low pressure area outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) has also intensified into a tropical depression.
Nika, late yesterday, weakened into a severe tropical storm. It is expected to exit PAR today when the tropical depression, to be named “Ofel,” is projected to enter the country.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the tropical depression will continue to intensify and may reach the typhoon category tomorrow.
Twenty-five areas were under storm signal warnings, based on a bulletin issued by PAGASA at 8 p.m. yesterday.
Civil defense officials said they were still assessing the damage from Nika which caused the evacuation of thousands of persons in Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley alone.
PAGASA said Nika, the country’s 14th tropical cyclone this year, made landfall in Dilasag town in Aurora at 8:10 a.m., a few hours after it intensified into a typhoon.
In the 8 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Nika has weakened into a severe tropical storm. It as was in the coastal waters of Magsingal town in Ilocos Sur as of 7 p.m. yesterday. Nika was moving northwestward at 20 kph, packing maximum sustained winds of 110 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph.
In the 8 p.m. bulletin, eight areas were under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 — southern portion of Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, northern portion of Benguet, southern portion of Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur.
Eight other areas were under Signal No. 2. These are the southern portion of Cagayan, eastern portion of Isabela, northern portion of Quirino, northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, La Union, rest of Ilocos Norte, rest of Apayao, and rest of Benguet
Nine areas were under Signal No. 1 — Pangasinan, the rest of Cagayan (including Babuyan Islands), rest of Isabela, rest of Quirino, rest of Nueva Vizcaya, Tarlac, northern and central portions of Zambales, Nueva Ecija, and Aurora.
PAGASA said Nika will continue moving west northwestward over West Philippine Sea and exit PAR this morning.
“Nika is forecast to continue weaken for the next days and may become a remnant low over the sea near southern China. Nevertheless, it will remain a severe tropical storm throughout its passage within the PAR region,” added PAGASA.
DISPLACED
Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Central Luzon director Amador Corpuz said the region experienced heavy to intense rains due to Nika but could not immediately say the damage it left.
Corpuz said 1,283 families or 3,660 individuals were affected, with many of them displaced.
He also said family food packs have been have prepositioned.
OCD Cagayan Valley director Leon Rafael said 1,656 families or 4,561 individuals living in flood- and landslide-prone areas were preemptively evacuated in the region.
“We have prepared for heavy rains and strong winds,” said Rafael, adding that these rains may cause flooding in low-lying areas and landslides.
PRIVATE FIRMS
President Marcos Jr. wants trucks and equipment of private firms with contracts in government’s infrastructure programs to help in the prepositioning of relief goods and other related typhoon-related operations amid the expected arrival of more weather disturbances soon, Acting Communications Secretary Cesar Chavez said yesterday.
Chavez said the President has instructed the transportation and public works departments of and their attached agencies to coordinate with the private sector.
Chavez also said budget department has assured the President it has available funds for relief and response efforts. – With Jocelyn Montemayor
