Jolina closes trekking sites

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources has suspended hiking, trekking, caving in Mt Pulag, Mt Purgatory in Benguet, and Sagada Caves in Mt Province are due to threats of Tropical Storm Jolina.

The entire Cordillera Regional DRRMC

Emergency Operations Center has raised its alert level status to RED in preparation for the landfall of the storm.

Jolina has maximum sustained winds of 80 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 95 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) is raised

Classes were suspended Friday morning when storm signal #2 was raised over the provinces of Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet and Abra as Jolina is expected to make landfall Friday evening before its estimated exit August 26, Saturday.

PAGASAA reported areas under signal #2 include Isabela, Northern Aurora, Quirino, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Nueva Vizcaya while signal #1 is raised over Apayao, Cagayan including Babuyan group of islands, rest of Aurora, Ilocos Norte, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Northern Quezon including Polillo island, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur.

DRRMC reminds the public to learn to interpret storm signal warnings; TCWS #1: Winds of 30 to 60 kph is expected to be felt within the next 36 hrs, TCWS #2: Winds of 61 to 120 kph wind is expected within the next 24 hrs, TCWS #3: Winds of 121 to 170 kph is expected within the next 18 hrs, TCWS #4: Winds of 171 to 220 kph is expected within 12 hrs, TCWS #5: Winds greater than 220 kph is expected within 12 hrs.

Baguio City has activated all agencies in charge for rescue, delivery of relief as well as life lines responding to emergency situations in a bid to thwart untoward incidences.

Flood prone areas of the City Camp Lagoon, Quarry and Lourdes is also being monitored by both the barangay and city rescue teams. Maria Elena Catajan