Amang to dump rain in MM

MANILA, Philippines – Those who will attend Pope Francis’ activities at the University of Santo Tomas and Rizal Park in Manila today are advised to carry raincoats as Tropical Storm Amang (international name Mekkhala) is expected to bring rains in the capital.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said as of 5 p.m. yesterday, storm signal No. 2 was raised over Catanduanes, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, southern Quezon including Polillo Island, Sorsogon, Masbate, Burias Island including Ticao Island, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar and Biliran.

“These areas will have stormy weather with heavy to intense rains. Residents along coastal areas are alerted against possible storm surges of less than two meters,” PAGASA said.

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said their field office in Eastern Visayas had supervised preemptive evacuation efforts in Northern Samar in preparation for the onslaught of Amang.

Meanwhile, signal no. 1 was hoisted over Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Batangas, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Quirino, Isabela, rest of Quezon, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro and Romblon, Leyte, Southern Leyte, extreme Northern Cebu including Bantayan Island and Camotes Island.

“In Metro Manila, we expect moderate rains. There is also a possibility of heavy rains but it will be brief,” PAGASA senior weather forecaster Rene Paciente told The STAR.

Paciente said they no longer expect Amang to intensify due to the presence of the northeast monsoon or the dry cold air from China and Siberia.

He said Amang is likely to make another landfall over the Bicol region.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of Amang was spotted at 60 kilometers north northeast of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, packing winds of 100 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 130 kph.

It was forecast to move northwest at 19 kph.

Amang is projected to be 115 km east of Infanta, Quezon this afternoon; 155 km east northeast of Aparri, Cagayan by tomorrow afternoon and 415 km east northeast of Basco, Batanes by Tuesday afternoon.

PAGASA said the storm will continue to bring heavy to intense rain within its 200-km radius.

The weather bureau advised residents in low-lying and mountainous areas of the provinces under public storm warning signals to be on alert for possible flashfloods and landslides.

The weather bureau also warned the storm may generate ocean waves reaching up to nine meters.

“Fisherfolk and those with small seacraft are advised not to venture out over the seaboards of Luzon, the Visayas and the eastern seaboard of Mindanao,” it said.

Paciente said Amang is likely to dissipate while inside the Philippine area of responsibility.

He said the country can expect improved weather beginning tomorrow when Pope Francis departs for Rome.

No power in Visayas

Several areas in the Visayas experienced power outage as strong winds brought about by Amang toppled power lines.

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP), the grid operator, said three major transmission facilities fell in the Visayas.

As a result, the Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative (Soleco), Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Esamelco) and the Northern Samar Electric Cooperative Inc. (Norasemelco) experienced power outage and were still without power as of press time yesterday.

The transmission lines that were toppled were the Nasaug-San Isidro 69 kilovolt line, the Taft-Borongan 69 kv line and the Cara-Catarman 69-kv Line, all in the Visayas region.

The Nasaug-San Isidro 69 kv line covers the franchise area of Sogod, Liloan and St. Bernard in Southern Leyte. The facility was out of power at 11:58 p.m. on Jan. 16.

The Taft-Borongan 69 kv line, meanwhile, covers the areas of Sulat, Taft, Canavid, Dolores, Oras, San Policarpo, Arteche, Jipapad, Maslog, Borongan, San Julian, Maydolong, Lllorente, Salcedo, Guiuan, MacArthur, Hernani, Quinapundan, Giporlos, Balangiga and Lawaan in Eastern Samar.

The Palanas Cara-Catarman 69 kv line in Northern Samar affects the areas of Catubig, Gamay, Lao-ang, Pambuhan, Palapag, Las Navas, Bobon, Catarman, Mondragon, San Roque, Rosario, San Jose, Lope de Vega, Allen, Victoria, San Isidro and Lavezares.

System operator and power transmission service provider NGCP continues to monitor and inspect transmission lines and other facilities affected by the passage of Amang. – With Iris Gonzales, Rainier Allan Ronda