(UPDATE) SIGNAL No. 3 was raised in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela on Saturday as Typhoon “Goring” (international name: “Saoloa”) intensified further, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Saturday.
Affected areas are the northeastern portion of Cagayan (Santa Ana); and the extreme eastern portion of Isabela (Divilacan, Palanan).
Signal No. 2 remains in the eastern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue, San Mariano, Ilagan City, Maconacon, Cabagan, Tumauini and San Pablo); eastern portion of Cagayan (Pe?ablanca, Baggao, Gattaran, Lal-Lo, Gonzaga, Santa Teresita and Buguey); and the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran).
Signal No. 1 is up in areas of Batanes; the rest of Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands; central portion of Aurora (Dinalungan, Dipaculao); Quirino; the rest of Isabela; Apayao; eastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Quezon, Diadi, Bagabag, Solano and Villaverde); eastern portion of Ifugao (Lamut, Lagawe, Hingyon, Banaue, Mayoyao, Aguinaldo and Alfonso Lista); eastern portion of Mountain Province (Barlig, Natonin and Paracelis); and Kalinga.
In its 11 a.m. bulletin, Pagasa said the eye of Goring was estimated at 155 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan, with maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) from 140 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph.
“The southwest monsoon enhanced by Goring will bring occasional or monsoon rains over the western portions of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon and Visayas over the next three days,” Pagasa said.
The state-run weather bureau said forecast rainfall is generally higher in elevated or mountainous areas.
Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards.
Red Cross on alert
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said it was preparing its rescue and relief assets, equipment, and its volunteers are ready.
In a statement issued on Saturday, PRC said its food trucks, water tankers and payloaders are in place and can be mobilized instantly.
Ambulances, generators and rescue equipment have similarly been pre-positioned in vulnerable areas, said PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dick Gordon.
“Northern Luzon is still reeling from the impacts of ‘Egay’ and ‘Falcon.’ Landslides can be expected to occur in this region as it experienced massive amounts of rain during the past weeks. Along with other lifelines such as food, water, electricity and telecommunications, our payloaders are pre-positioned in case landslides, fallen trees and other debris will block roads and hamper our relief and rescue operations,” Gordon said.
Egay and Falcon were two of the strongest typhoons to hit the country this year, with strong rains that flooded most of the country, forcing thousands to flee their homes and destroying over a billion pesos worth of crops and infrastructure. Cagayan was one of the hard-hit provinces and has yet to fully recover from the devastation.
PRC Secretary-General Gwen Pang said that the PRC chapters in other parts of Luzon and Visayas are also prepared to respond as Goring is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon.
