New LPA spotted east of PH
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is tracking a new low pressure area (LPA) east of the country, which could enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Thursday or Friday.
PAGASA weather forecaster Manny Mendoza said the weather system, which formed into an LPA at around 2 a.m. Wednesday, was located at 1,870 kilometers ( km) east of Southern Mindanao.
“If it maintains its westward
movement, the LPA will be inside the PAR today or Friday,” Mendoza said.
However, it is still too far to affect any part of the country. 5th storm warning
proposed PAGASA has also filed an application with the Geneva-based World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to have a Public Storm Warning Signal (PSWS) No. 5. Weather Forecaster Chris Perez said the proposed PSWS No. 5 will have maximum sustained winds of up to 220 kilometers per hour (kph).
The new weather disturbance is being closely monitored as it has the possibility of intensifying into a tropical depression. Should it develop into a tropical depression inside the PAR, it will be given a local name of “Seniang.” It may become the 19th tropical cyclone to enter PAR this year and second this month.
Meanwhile, “Ruby” (international name “Hagupit”) has re-intensified into a tropical storm while traversing the West Philippine Sea yesterday. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
Mendoza said “Ruby” was expected to leave the PAR at 7 p.m. Wednesday (December 10). It slightly moved faster westward at 20 kph or toward Vietnam, he noted.
As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, “Ruby” was at 550 km west-southwest of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro or 380 km northeast of Pagasa Island, Palawan.
PAGASA said Ruby and the northeast monsoon or amihan will generate rough to very rough seas over the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon.
It advised fisherfolk and those using small sea craft not to venture out over the said seaboards.
The proposal to have a Public Storm Warning Signal (PSWS) No. 5 stemmed from the fact that the tropical cyclones affecting the Philippines tend to become ferocious and stronger, citing this month’s typhoon “Ruby” which had winds of up to 215 kph before it hit land in Central Philippines. At present, PAGASA has a set of four tropical cyclone warnings in the form of Public Storm Warning Signals (PSWS).
2-B damage The damage caused by typhoon Ruby breached the P2 billion mark, while the official death toll rose to 11, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Wednesday.
The latest NDRRMC bulletin said that of the 11 deaths, seven were reported in Region 8 and one each in Regions 4A, 4B, 6, and 7. The NDRRMC also said that 480 persons were injured.
As of 1 p.m. Wednesday, the NDRRMC placed the estimated cost of damage caused by Ruby at 2,550,065,744 broken down as 1,272,982,494 in agriculture and 1,277,083,250 in infrastructure.
The NDRRMC also said “Ruby” affected at least 532,887 families or 2,392,593 people. Of these, 389,807 families or 1,766,929 people are being served
inside and outside evacuation centers.
21 provinces still in darkness
The NDRRMC further said that 21 provinces in six regions are still experiencing power outages.
Two road sections are closed to traffic due to flooding and landslides in Calabarzon and Eastern Visayas. Nine bridges are not passable in Quezon, Camarines Sur, Cagayan, Isabela and Eastern Samar. At least 17 flooded areas were reported in Quezon, Laguna, Marinduque, and Biñan, Laguna.
Authorities and aid agencies rushed relief supplies Wednesday to hundreds of thousands of people displaced by “Ruby,” as survivors sifted through debris to rebuild their lives.
Military cargo planes will make eight deliveries to worst- hit Samar while two Red Cross convoys will deliver thousands of food packs, water purifiers, blankets and hygiene kits, officials said.
“We are catching up on food delivery, especially in the far-flung areas, isolated areas in the mountains. We will strive to deliver to these areas today,” Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said.
An estimated 390,000 people, mostly in Samar, need food and temporary shelter assistance, Philippine Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon told AFP.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas had earlier said at least 200,000 people on the island needed help.
After the wave of food aid, the Red Cross will deliver 10,000 galvanized iron roof sheets to those who lost their homes,” he said.
Gordon said there would be “sporadic” increases in the death toll but the final count will be “nowhere near” “Haiyan,” the strongest storm to hit land ever recorded.
Nearly 1.7 million people were sheltered in evacuation centers as “Hagupit” passed their areas, according to government figures, and aid agencies hailed the strategy as a template for coping with future disasters. (With reports from Ellalyn B. De Vera, Elena L. Aben, PNA, and AFP)