LUZON, badly battered by Typhoon Pedring (international codename: Nesat), is set to get another pounding from powerful Typhoon Quiel (international codename: Nalgae), which is set to make landfall early today in the Cagayan-Isabela area in Northern Luzon.
Areas hit by Pedring are likely to be hit again because Quiel’s path and strength are almost the same as Pedring, weather officials said on Friday.
The new typhoon is expected to dump more rains over a wide area because it has a cloud band of 500 kilometers, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
Quiel, intensifying as it roared toward the Northern Luzon area, had maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour and gustiness of 170 kph.
It is expected to intensify until Sunday, Pagasa Officer-in-Charge Graciano Yumul said.
He explained that a “pressure rig” up north is forcing Quiel to move westward at 13 kph.
Pagasa has warned residents in flood-hit areas on the main island of Luzon to evacuate immediately since floodwaters will rise further once the typhoon starts dumping more rain.
Yumul said that even areas spared from the floods were in danger because water from flooded communities would eventually seep into neighboring areas.
Disaster-control officials also on Friday warned that at least a million people living in flooded villages and farmlands were set to be pounded by more devastating rain from Quiel.
“The problem is, the floodwaters from [Pedring] have not ebbed. Water-soaked soil is prone to landslides and flash floods,” National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management chief Benito Ramos said.
He added that churches, schools and gymnasiums were being prepared to accommodate possible evacuees.
About 160,000 flood victims were in state-run evacuation camps because of Pedring, with at least one million people across Luzon affected, he said.
President Benigno Aquino 3rd issued a statement praising the preparation efforts, but said that more were needed to be done to convince people living in danger zones to seek shelter before Typhoon Quiel would strike.
“Let me emphasize: we need to move all those in danger,” President Aquino added.
“In particular, let us help each other persuade fisherfolk and residents of coastal, low-lying and mountainous areas to be on alert and be extra cautious,” he said.
Disaster handbook
Ignorance of the risks posed by calamities is also a big problem in disaster mitigation, Sen. Loren Legarda also on Friday said during the launch of the Disaster Preparedness and First Aid handbook, which would be given for free.
The handbook contains basic information on the causes, possible risks, what to do during and after
the occurrence of hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, tropical cyclones, storm surges, thunderstorms, tornadoes, landslides, heat waves and fires.
It is a joint project of Pagasa; the Departments of Environment and Natural Resources, Education and Health; Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology; National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council; and other concerned agencies.
As Quiel neared Northern Luzon, Pagasa placed Cagayan and Isabela provinces under Storm Signal No. 3, GMA News said also on Friday.
Estimated to be 350 km in diameter on Thursday, the new typhoon has since expanded to 500 km diameter and may bring 15 to 25 mm of rain per hour, it said.
The weather bureau’s 5 p.m. report showed that Quiel was moving westward at 26 kph, packing sustained winds of 140 kph near the center and up to 170 kph gusty winds.
As of 4 p.m., it was estimated at 490 km east of Tuguegarao City (Cagayan) and would likely make landfall early on Saturday, it said.
By Saturday afternoon, the typhoon is expected at 40 km east of Laoag City (Ilocos Norte) or 90 km northwest of Tuguegarao City.
It will be 570 km west of Laoag City by Sunday afternoon.
Storm signals hoisted by Pagasa
Storm Signal No. 3 (101 km-185 km winds): Cagayan and Isabela.
Storm Signal No. 2 (61 km-100 km winds): Northern Aurora, Quirino, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Kalinga, Apayao, Calayan Islands and Babuyan Islands.
Storm Signal No. 1 (45 km-60 km winds): Rest of Aurora, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Benguet, La Union, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and Abra.
Pagasa has said that Quiel is not likely to enhance the southwest monsoon until it crosses Northern Luzon, adding that the typhoon may exit Northern Luzon on Saturday afternoon.
With report from Jefferson Antiporda
