In a day, CDO had rain beyond month's average

MANILA, Philippines - Rains dumped by tropical storm “Sendong” (international name “Washi”) in Cagayan de Oro City in a day surpassed the average rainfall in the city for the month of December, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.

PAGASA forecaster Jorie Lois said a total of 181 millimeters of rainfall was recorded in Cagayan de Oro starting Friday, exceeding its average of 99.9 mm for this month.

Cagayan de Oro reported 215 dead, and nearby Iligan City lost 144 residents, according to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC). Deaths in Cagayan de Oro were attributed to flashfloods and landslides due to heavy rains.

PRC officials warned that the final toll would likely rise as more bodies are found.

Lois said the highest volume of rain due to Sendong was recorded in Cagayan de Oro between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. last Saturday at 75 mm, or an average of 25 mm per hour.

Lois said PAGASA has no record of rainfall in Iligan City for Dec. 17 because it has no synoptic station in the area.

Meanwhile, Science Secretary Mario Montejo defended yesterday the forecast made by PAGASA for Sendong.

The weather bureau is an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology.

“The projected track of the storm did not change. PAGASA was also able to give the estimated amount of rainfall that could be dumped by the storm,” he said, adding that the public had been warned that the concentration of rains will be in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Malacañang also took the side of PAGASA, saying there is really no accurate forecast that would predict how harsh a typhoon would hit an area since it’s a natural phenomenon. - With Delon Porcalla