Close to 25,000 people were forced to flee their homes in northern Luzon as Typhoon “Goring” maintained its strength and was forecast to pass very close or make landfall near Batanes Wednesday morning or afternoon, the state weather bureau said Tuesday.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that most of the displaced persons were temporarily seeking shelter in 154 evacuation centers. Some 665 people were also preemptively evacuated.
The council also reported that 63,565 people—or 19,370 families—were affected by the typhoon across 21 provinces in seven regions.
While there were no fatalities so far, Goring damaged 28 houses, 13 of which were destroyed.
Damage to infrastructure was also initially placed at P41.1 million, the NDRRMC said.
At least 40 cities and towns in Luzon lost power due to the typhoon, but electricity has since been restored in 33 of them.
More than P979,000 worth of assistance has also been extended to the affected population, half of which came from local governments and the other half from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Most of the assistance was given to residents through cash aid, the NDRRMC also said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said it may raise Signal No. 4 over extreme northern Luzon.
Goring’s eye was last located 180 km east of Aparri, Cagayan. It was packing sustained winds of 155 kph near the center and 190 kph gusts.
From Tuesday until Wednesday noon, Goring is expected to dump 100 to 200 mm (around four to eight inches of rain) in the northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands, PAGASA said.
Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, the northern portion of Abra, the northern portion of Apayao, and the northern and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan will receive 50 to 100 mm (two to four inches) of rain.
“Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are still expected especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards,” the weather bureau warned.
It added that the monsoon enhanced by Goring would also bring occasional rains over the western portions of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Visayas over the next three days.
Signal No. 3 was raised over the southern portion of Batanes (Sabtang, Uyugan, Ivana, Mahatao, Basco) and the northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Is., Camiguin Is., Calayan Is.).
The rest of Batanes and Babuyan Islands, and the extreme northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Santa Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Abulug, Ballesteros, Aparri, Buguey, Camalaniugan, Santa Teresita) were put under Signal No. 2.
Signal no. 1 was raised over northern and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan (Baggao, Lasam, Peñablanca, Iguig, Amulung, Gattaran, Alcala, Santo Niño, Allacapan, Lal-Lo), the eastern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue, San Mariano, Ilagan City, Tumauini, San Pablo, Cabagan, Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan), the northern portion of Apayao (Flora, Calanasan, Luna, Pudtol, Santa Marcela), and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Vintar, Pasuquin, Burgos, Dumalneg, Adams, Pagudpud, Bangui).
Moving slowly, Goring is forecast to follow a mainly northwestward or west-northwestward path across the Luzon Strait from Tuesday until it exits the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.
Several flights were suspended Tuesday in view of the bad weather, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said.
Those affected include airports in Tugegarao, Palanan, Cauayan, Lubang, and Basco.
Basco Airport is under Signal No. 3, with flights canceled and facilities secured, said Area Center 2 Manager Mary Sulyn Sagorsor.
“Efforts are underway to secure the airport’s facilities. The governor’s office has declared no work or classes in the Batanes region. An intermittent internet signal is reported. Additional typhoon shelter locks have been fabricated,” she said.
Four Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) flights to and from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were canceled in Tuguegarao where cloudy skies and light to moderate rain were reported.
Cauayan Airport was also experiencing cloudy skies on Tuesday with light rain showers. Commercial flights were temporarily suspended.
Palanan Airport officials reported intermittent internet, along with light to moderate rain and cloudy skies. All facilities are intact, and no damages or losses have been incurred. No flights are currently operational.
Under Signal No. 3, Itbayat Airport personnel are already securing the Passenger Terminal Building and taking necessary precautions.
Area Center 3 Manager Glenn Tripulca said light rains were observed at San Jose Airport.
“All scheduled aircraft have safely landed. However, due to the ongoing impact of the southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Goring, both public and private offices in the entire province of Occidental Mindoro have suspended classes and work,” said Tripulca.
Lubang Airport was also experiencing continuous moderate to heavy rains with light winds. Training flights have been suspended.
In Manila, airport authorities reported 14 canceled domestic flights.
CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio said all area center personnel and airport managers are closely monitoring the situation and will continue to provide timely updates.
“Travelers and stakeholders are advised to stay informed through their respective airlines and exercise caution as the typhoon’s impact continues to unfold,” he said.
Several courts in Oriental Mindoro and Batanes suspended work Tuesday due to the bad weather, the Supreme Court said.
Eight towns in the provinces of Pangasinan and Ilocos Norte canceled the opening of classes on Tuesday due to the effects of the southwest monsoon or habagat enhanced by Goring.
The Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said classes did not push through in Bolinao (preschool to elementary), Mangaldan (pre-school to college), Manaoag from (preschool to senior high school), and Rosales (all levels).
In Ilocos Norte, Solsona town mayor Joseph De Lara canceled classes from pre-school to secondary level, both in private and public schools, on Tuesday afternoon, due to the danger posed to students attending school, especially those who need to cross rivers and landslide-prone areas.