MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Lando (Koppu) has intensified further and would bring heavy rains and strong winds in almost all of Luzon until Tuesday, the state weather bureau said yesterday.
State weather forecasters said Lando intensified yesterday with maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 220 kph.
The typhoon is slowly making its way to the Philippine landmass at 10 kph and is expected to make landfall over Aurora province this morning.
“Estimated rainfall amount is from heavy to intense within the 600-kilometer diameter of the typhoon,” said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in its severe weather bulletin.
Other weather stations such as the Joint Typhoon Warning Center based in Guam and Japan Meteorological Agency yesterday categorized Lando as a Category 3 typhoon.
The eye of the typhoon was estimated at 90 kilometers southeast of Casiguran, Aurora as of 10 p.m. yesterday.
Lando was expected to intensify further and reach a category 4 typhoon before it makes landfall.
PAGASA raised the maximum public storm warning signal number 4 over Aurora province, with winds of 171 to 220 ph expected in at least 12 hours.
The provinces of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Ifugao, Northern Quezon and Polillo Islands were placed under storm warning signal number 3.
Meanwhile, signal number 2 was hoisted over
Cagayan, including Calayan and Babuyan group of Islands, Benguet, Mt. Province, Abra, Kalinga-Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Tarlac, Pampanga,
Bulacan, Rizal, rest of Quezon province, Camarines Norte and Metro Manila.
PAGASA placed Batanes, Bataan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Lubang Island, northern Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Camarines Sur, Albay and Catanduanes under storm signal no. 1.
Occasional rains and gusty winds will be experienced over provinces under signal number 1 while those under signal numbers 2, 3 and 4 will have stormy weather, according to weather forecasters.
Lando is expected to be at the vicinity of Casiguran, Aurora this morning. Upon landfall, PAGASA said the typhoon is expected to move north and exit landmass at the vicinity of Ilocos Norte on Tuesday.
Lando will remain in the Philippine area of responsibility until the end of the week, PAGASA said.
PAGASA weather division chief Esperanza Cayanan explained Lando is expected to stay longer within the Philippine area of responsibility due to its interaction with another typhoon, Champi, which is also being prevented from moving out by a high pressure area to the north.
Cayanan said the presence of Champi east of Lando and the high pressure area above the two cyclones is keeping Lando almost stationary.
Preparations
Malacañang stressed preemptive evacuation would be the key to achieving zero casualty.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said local government units are expected to take the necessary actions to keep people safe.
She said various government agencies and affected local government units have readied the necessary preparations.
“As of (Friday) afternoon, the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) has made available a total of P18,461,984.69 in standby funds, 196,737 family food packs and P158,164,761.76 worth of food and non-food items,” Valte said.
In addition to areas with automatic class suspensions due to the storm warning signals, the local governments of Laguna, Cavite, Albay, Nueva Ecija and Pasay City also suspended classes in all levels yesterday.
Eight domestic flights were canceled as of 11 a.m. yesterday due to Typhoon Lando.
The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said Cebu Pacific canceled two domestic flights to Manila-Cauyan-Manila, and four flights Manila-Tuguegarao-Manila while the Ceb go (former Sea Air) canceled two flights Manila-Naga-Manila.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has placed its entire force in Luzon under high alert for disaster response operations.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) also alerted its regional commands in Luzon in preparation for the approach of Typhoon Lando.
The Cagayan regional police in particular was placed on full alert with its regional search and rescue units on standby.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Northwestern Luzon called back all fishing boats to shore.
PCG Northwestern Luzon commander Capt. Leovigildo Panopio said they requested all fishing boat owners, of all tonnage and all kinds of vessels that fall under their area of responsibility, not to venture out to sea for their safety.
In Cebu, a motorized boat capsized Friday, leaving all its 28 passengers and crew floating for eight hours.
The PCG said a passing passenger vessel rescued all the passengers and crew of M/B Mansan.
The Mansan reportedly left the port of Talibon, Bohol late Friday without seeking clearance from the PCG station in the area.
Upon reaching Bagacay Point in Liloan, Cebu, the boat capsized after it was hit by strong winds and big waves.
“Even before there was a declaration of a gale warning we have already suspended sea travel since Friday morning, before the deterioration of the sea condition, but they still continued with their voyage,” PCG Cebu District commander Commodore Enrico Efren Evangelista said.
The PCG added that as of noon yesterday, they have recorded 3,129 stranded passengers in various ports in Southern Tagalog, with Batangas having the most passengers-in-waiting with 1,013; Oriental Mindoro with 789; Occidental Mindoro with 250 passengers; Southern Quezon with 158 and Northern Quezon with 15.
In the Bicol Region, the bulk of the stranded passengers were in Albay with 832; Sorsogon with seven; Catanduanes with 22; Masbate with four and Camarines Sur with 35.
Only four passengers were stranded in Aparri.
The PCG added they continue to disseminate the latest weather forecasts to all the coastal barangays expected to be affected by the typhoon. – Aurea Calica, Jaime Laude, Evelyn Macairan, Mayen Jaymalin, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Rudy Santos, Celso Amo, Raymund Catindig