MANILA, Philippines - Weather forecasters yesterday warned residents in areas placed under storm warning signals of possible flashfloods and landslides due to heavy to intense rain brought by tropical cyclone “Quinta.”
Quinta – the 17th tropical cyclone to enter the country this year – was forecast to make landfall over Dinagat Island at 10 last night.
Storm warning signal number 2 was raised over 11 areas yesterday afternoon as Quinta moved closer to Eastern Visayas.
Placed under signal no. 2 were Eastern Samar, Western Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Northern Cebu, Camotes Island, Bohol, Biliran, Dinagat province, Siargao Island and Surigao del Norte.
Signal no. 1 was hoisted over Northern Samar, Masbate, Ticao Island, Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros provinces, Siquijor, the rest of Cebu, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin and Surigao del Sur.
Nathaniel Servando, administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said Quinta was not expected to directly hit Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental, two areas severely affected by typhoon “Pablo” early this month.
Servando said Quinta was not expected to be as powerful as Pablo.
“The difference between Pablo and Quinta is Pablo was already a typhoon when it entered the Philippine area of responsibility while Quinta intensified into a tropical depression inside the Philippine area of responsibility,” he said.
He explained that Pablo’s long duration over the sea allowed it to gather strength.
As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of Quinta was spotted at 90 kilometers southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar with maximum winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.
It was forecast to move west at 24 kph.
Servando said Quinta has started to bring strong winds and intense rains over Eastern Visayas last night.
The storm is expected to bring 10 to 20 millimeters per hour of rain (heavy to intense) within its 350-km radius.
After making landfall over Dinagat Island, Quinta was forecast to cross Southern Leyte, Northern Cebu, Northern Negros, and Northern Palawan.
Quinta will be in the vicinity of Cebu this morning and will leave the Philippine area of responsibility on tomorrow or Friday.
It was predicted to be 50 kms east of Cuyo Island this afternoon; 320 km west northwest of Puerto Princesa City tomorrow afternoon, and 870 kms west or northwest of Puerto Princesa City or outside the area of responsibility by Friday afternoon.
On alert
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) yesterday said it has placed its field units and attached agencies in the Visayas and Mindanao on red alert.
“The NDRRMC Operations Center is on red alert status to monitor and disseminate severe weather bulletins on tropical storm Quinta to all Office of Civil Defense regional centers,” said NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos.
Army troops of the 4th Infantry Division based in Cagayan de Oro City as well as members of the Philippine Navy have been placed on standby, ready for deployment as the need arises.
“Our troops and rescue assets are all in place. We also pre-positioned food and non-food items in areas near the projected path of the storm,” said Lt. Col. Eugenio Julio Osias IV, spokesman of the 4th ID.
Meanwhile, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) commandant Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena ordered all the maritime agency’s units to monitor and make the necessary preparations in connection with the latest weather disturbance to hit the country.
The alert order was directed especially to the PCG districts, stations and detachments that will be directly affected by Quinta.
Operators of small vessels, motorized bancas and fishing boats were also advised to avoid sailing the southeastern and eastern sections of the country.
PCG spokesman Commandant Armand Balilo said that according to the PCG Eastern Visayas District, 362 passengers were stranded yesterday afternoon because of the storm.
– With Evelyn Macairan, Jaime Laude