By FRANCIS T. WAKEFIELD
Manila, Philippines – Storm signal No. 2 raised in Cagayan, Isabela; ‘Pedring’ death toll now 43; Pampanga, Bulacan still flooded.
At least two areas in Northern Luzon were placed under Public Storm Warning Signal Number 2 as Typhoon “Quiel” (international name: Nalgae) intensified further as it moved nearer to the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) disclosed yesterday.
In a press briefing, PAGASA said that as of 10 a.m. yesterday, the center of “Quiel” was located based on surface and satellite data at 640 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City with maximum sustained winds of up to 170 kilometers per hour (kph).
PAGASA said “Quiel”, the 18th weather disturbance to enter the country, was forecast to move west at 22 kph.
It added that by this morning, “Quiel” was forecast to be 190 kms. east-southeast of Aparri, Cagayan or 160 kms. east of Tuguegarao. By tomorrow morning, the weather disturbance would be 360 kms. west of the city and by Monday morning at 870 kms. west of it.
PAGASA said Public Storm Warning Signal Number 2 is currently hoisted over Cagayan and Isabela provinces, two areas which were severely hit early this week by Typhoon “Pedring”.
Meanwhile, Storm Warning Number 1 is currently hoisted over 13 areas in Luzon. These are Calayan Group of Islands, Babuyan Group of Islands, Apayao, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Benguet, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte and Abra.
DEATH TOLL 43;R4-B DAMAGE
The death toll from Pedring climbed to 43 while the damage to property neared the P4-billion mark yesterday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.
In its 6 a.m. update on September 30, the NDRRMC said 44 people were reported injured while 30 remained missing.
Damage to property was estimated at P3,999,751,995.86, including P545,633,277.81 in infrastructure, and P3,454,118,718.05 in agriculture.
Some 3,394 houses were destroyed while 12,901 houses were damaged.
NDRRMC Executive Director Benito Ramos reported that at least 14 areas in Luzon were declared under state of calamity due to Typhoon Pedring such as Santiago City, Tuguegarao City and Isabela in Region 2; Obando, Calumpit and Meycauayan City in Bulacan; Olongapo City, Dinalupihan in Bataan; Tarlac City, Nueva Ecija, Noveleta in Cavite; Malabon, Navotas and Marikina in National Capital Region (NCR).
FORCED EVACUATION
SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga — Thousands of residents were force to evacuate their houses in the towns of Candaba, San Simon and Apalit after the Pampanga River continued to overflow yesterday.
Pampanga Governor Lilia G. Pineda instructed provincial disaster personnel and other concerned agencies to assist fleeing residents after several dikes in the province were damaged.
As of yesterday afternoon search-and-rescue teams continued their operations in flood-affected areas, Joel Mapiles, Pampanga government’s public information office head, said.
Meanwhile, Gene Nievares, hydrologists from PAGASA, explained that water coming down from the mountains such as the Sierra Madre mountain range could have contributed to the rise of flood waters in Calumpit, Bulacan.
Residents in Calumpit, it was recalled, were forced to climb to rooftops of their houses since Thursday as floodwaters already reached chest-high. (With reports from GMA News, Franco G. Regala & Freddie G. Lazaro)
PCG, MMDA SEND RESCUE TEAMS
After receiving several emergency calls late Thursday night, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) dispatched several rescue teams in flood-hit areas in the province of Bulacan and Pampanga.
Admiral Ramon Liwag, PCG chief, said that teams from the Coast Guard Special Operations Group (CGSOG) equipped with rubber boats were already dispatched in several flood-hit areas in Bulacan.
An MMDA rescue team was also deployed in Hagonoy, Bulacan yesterday morning. (Carlo Cahinhinan & Rizal S. Obanil)