Wrong info spreads panic

INFORMATION about the incoming typhoon Yolanda from a government agency sent confusion and panic among residents of Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.

The information as relayed to Sun.Star Davao by a provincial information officer stated that Yolanda is “following the path of typhoon Pablo.”

Pablo devastated the provinces of Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley in December last year such that rehabilitation work continues until today.

Yolanda will not be heading toward the Davao Region and is instead ex-

pected to make landfall in Samar-Leyte.

The wrong information apparently stemmed from comparisons being made between the strength of Pablo and Yolanda. Yolanda at its present forecast strength is as strong as Pablo in 2012 and typhoon Ruping in 1990.

As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, Typhoon Yolanda was located 1,221 kilometers east of Mindanao with maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 210 kph.

The typhoon is forecast to move west northwest at 30 kph. It is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility by early morning Thursday and may make landfall over Eastern Visayas between 12 noon and 3 p.m. Friday.

Pagasa said in a press briefing Wednesday afternoon that signal number 4 might be raised over Masbate, Romblon and Panay if the typhoon reaches 185 kph.

Placed on red alert were Metro Manila and the regions of Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Caraga and Northern Mindanao, said NDRRMC spokesperson Major Rey Balido.

Under this status, disaster units are advised to take pre-emptive evacuation of residents and for local government units to prepare shelters and preposition relief goods.

State weather forecasters said it will cut through Visayas on Friday before exiting through Mindoro on Sunday.

Haiyan could carry winds of up to 241 kilometers per hour by Friday night before weakening a bit to 213 kph by Saturday or after crossing the country. Hawaii-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) classifies a super typhoon if center winds reach 241 kph or above.

“Rain and increasing wind will reach the central Philippines Friday afternoon and conditions will deteriorate from east to west Friday night into early Saturday as the powerful typhoon crosses the islands,” said meteorologist Eric Leister of accuweather.com.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said it will likely raise public storm signal number 4 in areas to be visited by Haiyan, a Chinese term for petrel or a kind of seabird.

The condition is characterized by “very strong winds” of more than 185 kph that may be expected in at least 12 hours.

The winds may bring extensive damage to coconut plantation, houses and buildings, uproot many large trees and cut power lines.

“Emerging into the South China Sea later Saturday, Haiyan will remain a dangerous cyclone as it continues to move to the west-northwest. The eventual track of Haiyan will bring the storm toward Vietnam by late Sunday into Monday,” said Leister.

Haiyan will be the 24th storm to enter the country this year. (Virgil Lopez/ Sunnex)