‘Lawin’ now a super-typhoon; signal No. 5 hoisted over Cagayan, Isabela, Kalinga, Apayao

Disaster officials yesterday warned resident of Northern Luzon, especially in Cagayan and Isabela where super-typhoon “Lawin” may make landfall, to brace for the worst as it was expected to unleash its fury late last night or early today.

From a mere tropical cyclone, Lawin (international name “Haima”) has intensified into a super-typhoon as it inched closer to the country yesterday, posing serious threat to Northern and Central Luzon areas.

Lawin’s strength reached maximum sustained winds of up to 225 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 315 kph, prompting the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to raise the highest tropical cyclone warning signal No. 5 over Cagayan, Isabela, Kalinga, and Apayao yesterday afternoon, the first time the storm signal was used since it was introduced in 2015. These areas may experience winds of more than 220 kph within 12 hours, and heavy to widespread damage is most likely.

Signal No. 4 was hoisted over Ilocos Norte, Abra, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province, Ifugao, and Calayan group of islands. These areas may experience 171-220 kph of winds within 12 hours.

Meanwhile, signal No. 3 was raised over La Union, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and northern Aurora. These areas may experience 121-170 kph in 18 hours.

Areas placed under signal No. 2 are Batanes group of islands, Pangasinan, rest of Aurora, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, northern Zambales, and northern Quezon including Polillo Island. These areas may experience 61-120 kph within 24 hours.

The rest of Zambales, Bulacan, Bataan, Pampanga, Rizal, rest of Quezon, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, and Metro Manila were placed under signal No. 1. About 30-60 kph of winds is expected within 36 hours.

PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said Lawin was expected to make landfall over Cagayan or Isabela between 11 p.m. Wednesday and 2 a.m. Thursday.

After its landfall, the eye of Lawin is expected to cross Apayao and Ilocos Norte en route to China.

Aurelio said Lawin is relatively moving fast and is expected over the coast of Ilocos Sur or Ilocos Norte by Thursday morning. It will be outside the country’s area of responsibility by Thursday evening or Friday morning.

At around 2 p.m. Wednesday, Lawin was located 300 km east of Casiguran, Aurora, moving west-northwest at 24 kph.

5-meter storm surge

PAGASA-Weather Division’s Marine Meteorological Services Section Chief Rene Paciente warned residents, particularly in Northern and Central Luzon to brace for a “destructive” typhoon.

“Wherever it makes landfall, people should not let their guards down because typhoon Lawin is a destructive cyclone due to its large circulation,” Paciente said. He added that the strong gusts and fast movement of Yolanda triggered storm surge of up to 10 meters high in Eastern Visayas in 2013.

Aurelio said moderate to intense rains is expected over Northern and Central Luzon within 24 hours, which could trigger floods and landslides over low-lying and mountainous areas.

Residents along coastal areas should also be on alert for possible storm surge up to 5 meters or 16.4 feet along the coastlines of Isabela, northern Aurora, Ilocos Norte, and Cagayan including Calayan Island.

Undersecretary Ricardo B. Jalad, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) administrator, said in a press briefing that Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (RDRRMCs) concerned have been advised to undertake “precautionary measures” in their respective areas of responsibility for the arrival of the super typhoon.

He also advised local disaster officials to initiate pre-emptive evacuation of families in low-lying areas and mountainous areas if situation warrants.

Evacuate now

Dr. Mahar Lagmay, Project NOAH executive director, asked residents that will be directly affected by Lawin to evacuate now in order to escape danger.

During a press briefing at the NDRRMC headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Lagmay said that no amount of government warning given will be effective if people and communities will not heed their call and make any action.

“Kailangan po umaksyon ang mga tao at alamin kung saan pupunta, sundin ang mga abiso. Kapag wala po iyan, hindi po magiging epektibo ang programa ng gobyerno (Residents should act now, find out where to evacuate, and follow advices. If these are not followed, the disaster preparedness program of the government won’t be effective),” he added.

880 km circulation

From a diameter of 650 km last Tuesday, Lawin’s circulation grew bigger at 800 km on Wednesday afternoon. This is larger than super-typhoon Yolanda’s circulation of 600 km when it made landfall over Eastern Samar in November, 2013. Lawin’s damaging wind may cover 155 kms from the center.

In terms of wind intensity, Yolanda is stronger than Lawin having reached maximum sustained winds of 235 kph before its landfall.

However, Lawin’s gustiness is stronger at 315 kph, while Yolanda’s gustiness reached 275 kph before it hit the landmass of Visayas.

PAGASA’s historical storm surge data showed that during the onslaught of super typhoon Juan (Megi) in 2010, storm surge up to 6.5 meters occurred in Divilacan, Isabela, and up to 4.6 meters in Dinapigue, Isabela.

“Those along coastal areas should already evacuate to higher ground,” Paciente said.

Likewise, sea travel is risky over the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon and the northern and eastern seaboards of Samar.

Stay vigilant

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reminded the public to stay vigilant, beef up their preparations in their own homes, and follow announcements of local authorities for their own safety.

“Lawin is not an ordinary typhoon. We do not want to repeat what happened during Yolanda,” Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said.

DSWD already replenished goods yesterday in areas previously affected by typhoon “Karen” and are most likely to be hit by Lawin.

Some 10,000 family food packs were transported from the DSWD-National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City to the La Trinidad, Benguet warehouse.

Additional goods will be delivered to San Fernando, Pampanga (15,000 packs and 450 relief bags donation from the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation); Palayan, Nueva Ecija (5,000 packs); Baler, Aurora (5,000 packs); Tuguegarao, Cagayan (3,000 bottled drinking water); Real, Quezon Port (1,700 packs); and Office of the Civil Defense in Cordillera Administrative Region (100 camping lamps and 100 solar panels).

Apart from prepositioning goods, the DSWD-Disaster Response and Management Bureau is closely coordinating with the NROC for logistical support and deployment.

Taguiwalo also assured the public that the DSWD will continue to send relief supplies as long as there is need for these.

LGUs alerted

Secretary Ismael D. Sueno of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) asked local chief executives (LCEs) and the public, especially those in Northern Luzon, to take necessary precautions.

“With the coming of typhoon ‘Karen’ last week, our LGUs had a fast response time in their evacuation,” said Sueno.

Pero ngayon na may bago nang papasok na bagyo, lalo nang kailangan nang maging handa at listo tayo sa anumang dulot ng sakuna (With another typhoon, the more all should be prepared and alert for whatever consequences),” Sueno added.

Sueno, vice chairman for Disaster Preparedness of the NDRRMC, also urged LCEs to apply the framework of the Oplan Listo disaster preparedness program and use their Disaster Preparedness Manual’s Checklist of Minimum Critical Preparations for Mayors.

“Mayors are the frontliners and first responders in the event of forthcoming disaster, so there must be concrete planning,” said Sueno.

Passengers, boats stranded

While Lawin has not yet made a landfall, more than 700 passengers were already stranded in different ports in Luzon, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said yesterday.

PCG said that as of 12 p.m. yesterday, a total of 737 passengers were stranded in different ports in the Bicol Region and Northeastern Luzon.

A total of nine vessels, 43 motor bancas, and 35 rolling cargoes were also stranded.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Airlines (PAL) has cancelled some local flights originally scheduled for Thursday due to Lawin.

These flights are PR 2014 Manila-Tuguegarao; PR 2015 Tuguegarao-Manila, PR 2084 Manila-Basco; PR 2085 Basco-Manila; PR 2196 Manila-Laoag; and PR 2197 Laoag-Manila.

Affected passengers may rebook within 30 days from original flight date or within ticket validity period by calling 855-8888, log on to its website www.philippineairlines.com, or visit the nearest PAL ticketing office or partner travel agent. (With reports from Chito A. Chavez, Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos, and PNA)

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Ellalyn B. De Vera and Francis T. Wakefield

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