‘Samuel’ to intensify as it makes landfall

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent .

A BREWING storm yesterday threatened Mindanao and Visayas with damaging winds and flooding rains, and weather forecasters feared it could pick up strength as it makes landfall today.

Daizyree Flores, a weather specialist at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) station in El Salvador, Misamis Oriental, said tropical depression “Samuel” could strengthen today ahead of its landfall.

Flores said “Samuel,” the 19th storm to hit the country this year, is expected to make its landfall between 8 pm and 12 midnight in Siargao Island.

As of 2 pm yesterday, Pagasa said “Samuel” was hovering over the Pacific Ocean, some 605 kilometers east of Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur, with maximum sustained winds of 55 km per hour near the center and gustiness of 65 kilometers per hour. It was moving northwest at 15 kilometers per hour.

Pagasa placed Misamis Oriental, including Cagayan de Oro, and Camiguin under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1.

At the Balingoan port in Misamis Oriental, the Coast Guard stopped sea travel to  Camiguin, vice versa, starting at 11:44 am.

Also under tropical cyclone warning signal  are Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands — the entire Caraga region;

Southern Leyte, Leyte, Bohol and the southern portsions of Samar and Eastern Samar in the Visayas.

In Severe Weather Bulletin No. 4 issued earlier, Pagasa also warned residents of Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Bukidnon, Bohol and Cebu of moderate to heavy rains that may result in floodings and landslides.

Fisherfolk and those with small seacraft were advised not to venture out in the areas placed under Pagasa’s tropical cyclone warning.

“Samuel” is forecast to be 245 km east northeast of Hinatuan this morning; in the vicinity of San Lorenzo, Guimaras tomorrow morning; 255 km from northwest of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan on Thursday morning; and 725 km west northwest of Puerto Princesa City or outside the Philippine area of responsibility by Friday morning.

Dave Houk, a meteorologist at Accuweather, said “Samuel” posed threats of heavy rains and floodings even if it does not intensify.

He said a narrow area of locally damaging wind can be expected near the track of the storm, likely from northern Mindanao into southern Visayas.

Chief Supt. Timeoteo Pacleb, police director for northern Mindanao, reactivated Camp Alagar’s search and rescue personnel, and ordered police units across the region to do the same and prepare to help in the anticipated rescue operations.

“Prepare our water assets and search and rescue crew, and ensure proper deployment” to areas in need of help, said Pacleb.

The capitol and city hall here stepped up disaster risk reduction management operations after Pagasa hoisted the tropical cyclone warning.

Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano declared a “blue alert” which placed the capitol’s rescue and disaster response group on standby mode.

Emano has ordered the suspension of pre-school classes in the province yesterday.

Fernando Dy, chief of the capitol’ disaster risk reduction and management office, said Emano’s order is for the response group to work for a “zero casualty” if and when the storm batters the province.

Dy said the capitol’s rescuers, including a medical team, were prepared to respond anytime of the day.

Dy said he has ordered all the provincial government’s rescue and disaster response equipment prepared as the capitol started the 24-hour daily monitoring of the situation in the province.

City hall, for its part, mobilized its Incident Management Team. Its emergency operations center became more busy yesterday.

Allan Porcadilla, head of city hall’s disaster risk reduction management department, said local government’s response team and equipment were prepared in case of emergency situations as a result of weather conditions become worse.