'Igme' threatens Northern Luzon

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical storm “Igme” intensified as it moved closer to the country yesterday, threatening to bring heavy rains and strong winds over Northern Luzon, which is still reeling from the effects of storm “Helen,” the state weather bureau said.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, public storm warning signal number 1 was hoisted over Isabela and Cagayan.

Igme is the ninth tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the second weather disturbance this month.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of Igme was spotted at 315 kilometers east southeast of Aparri, Cagayan with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

It was moving north slowly, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

PAGASA said the storm remained almost stationary for the past six hours.

PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said Igme is expected to bring five to 15 millimeters per hour of rain (moderate to heavy).

The weather disturbance will also enhance the southwest monsoon, which will bring light to moderate rains over Northern Luzon particularly Benguet, Baguio, Pangasinan, La Union and Ilocos region; and Central and Southern Luzon especially the western section.

“Residents living in Northern Luzon especially in low lying and mountainous areas are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides,” Aurelio said.

PAGASA advised fishermen in Central and Southern Luzon not to venture out to sea due to big waves generated by the tropical depression and the surge of southwest monsoon.

Igme is expected to be at 320 km east southeast of Aparri this afternoon; 400 km east northeast of Aparri tomorrow afternoon, and 300 km northeast of Basco, Batanes by Wednesday afternoon.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) also ordered its field units to undertake precautionary measures as Igme moved closer to the country.

NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos said he has asked regional disaster management officials to “take appropriate actions” and to monitor the weather bulletins issued by PAGASA.

The NDRRMC also advised its local units to initiate preemptive evacuation of residents in areas prone to landslides and floods when necessary.

Disaster officials in Cagayan Valley, where the typhoon is expected to make landfall in the next few days, said that all contingency measures, from search and rescue to relief operations including evacuation sites for affected residents, have already been put in place.

Cagayan bore the brunt of the recent onslaught of typhoon “Gener” and Helen, leaving farmers with nearly P100-million crop losses.

Meanwhile, close to 10,000 people who were affected by Helen were still inside evacuation centers.

NDRRMC said 2,520 families or 9,993 persons are still inside 50 evacuation centers nationwide.

Helen, which left the country’s area of responsibility last week, affected 13,234 persons or 3,423 families in Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Cordillera regions.

The storm also left 10 persons dead and 17 others injured.

The amount of damage in agriculture caused by Helen has reached P59.78 million. - With Alexis Romero, Charlie Lagasca