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Typhoon 'Ursula' ruins Christmas for thousands of Filipinos

Agence France-Presse
Typhoon 'Ursula' ruins Christmas for thousands of Filipinos
"Ursula" (international name Phanfone) has intensified into a typhoon Tuesday afternoon.
Zoom Earth, JMA / NOAA / CIRA

MANILA, Philippines — Thousands of people in typhoon-prone central Philippines have had their Christmas plans ruined after they were told to leave their homes as a severe tropical storm approaches.

Officials on Christmas Eve said residents should evacuate coastal areas, and thousands more were stranded at ports with ferry services shut down as the nation hunkered down for rain and strong winds.

Damaging gale- to storm-force winds were forecast over the Asian nation's Pacific coast in the afternoon ahead of Typhoon Ursula's (international name Phanfone) projected landfall on Samar island as early as 5:00 pm (0900 GMT), the state weather service said.

Though much weaker, Ursula was tracking a similar path as Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan), the country's deadliest cyclone on record which left more than 7,300 people dead or missing in 2013.

All ships on the storm's projected path through the central islands were ordered to stay in port, while local executives there told residents of the coasts as well as flood- and landslide-prone areas to move to safety.

"Some families are reluctant to evacuate because they want to celebrate Christmas at home, but local officials will force them out if they refuse to heed our warnings," regional civil defence official Reyden Cabrigas told AFP.

Cabrigas, speaking by phone from the central city of Tacloban, said evacuations were underway there as well as nearby Samar, but added he did not immediately have a total count.

"We are aiming for zero casualties," Cabrigas added.

More than 21,000 ferry passengers trying to get home for the mainly Catholic nation's Christmas holidays have been stranded at ports as shipping shut down, the coast guard said Tuesday.

Local carriers also suspended dozens of domestic flights.

The state weather service said Phanfone, Laotian for "animal", may strengthen into a typhoon with sustained peak winds of more than 120 kilometres (62 miles) an hour overnight Wednesday.

It advised residents, including those in Manila, to stay indoors on Christmas Day to avoid the high winds which can cause damage to weaker structures.

The Philippines is the first major landmass facing the Pacific cyclone belt, and the archipelago gets hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons each year, putting millions of people in disaster-prone areas in a state of constant poverty.

Strong winds and associated dangers like floods, landslides, and, more rarely, giant walls of seawater pounding the coasts kill scores of people each year, wipe out farmers' harvests and destroy infrastructure.

Homes built with flimsy materials, as well as populated areas along the coasts, floodplains, and mountainous interiors, are often the most vulnerable.

vuukle comment

CHRISTMAS

PAGASA

URSULAPH

WEATHER UPDATE

As It Happens
LATEST UPDATE: December 31, 2019 - 12:16pm

Monitor updates on "Ursula," the 21st tropical cyclone to hit the country this year.

December 31, 2019 - 12:16pm

Authorities say the number of people killed by a powerful storm that pummeled the central Philippines over Christmas has risen to 50, making it the nation's deadliest storm of 2019.

Typhoon Ursula's destructive winds and heavy rains brought down flimsy homes and destroyed commercial buildings mainly in the central island of Visayas, affecting more than two million people.

At least 80,000 remain in emergency shelters and might have to stay until the New Year, given the scale of destruction. — AFP

December 30, 2019 - 9:09am

The death toll due to Typhoon Ursula which exited PAR last Saturday morning climbed to 47 while the number of injured also rose to 140. Disaster officials say nine people remain missing.

The casualties came from Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas.

Meanwhile, the cost of damage to infrastructure and agriculture in Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas reached P1,079,311,046.

December 28, 2019 - 11:19am

PAGASA says "Ursula" slightly weakens as it exits the Philippine area of responsibility.

Tropical Storm Ursula left PAR at 9:50 a.m. Saturday. It is no longer affecting the Philippines.

"However, the Tail-End of a Cold Front will bring scattered light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms over Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, and Aurora this morning," the state weather bureau says. 

December 27, 2019 - 12:17pm

PAGASA says Typhoon Ursula is no longer affecting the Philippines directly. 

Based on its 11 a.m. weather bulletin Friday, "Ursula" keeps its strenght while moving north-northwestward over the West Philippine Sea.

"However, the Tail-End of a Cold Front will bring moderate to occasional heavy rains over most of Cagayan Valley and Cordillera Administrative Region," says PAGASA. 

"This rainfall may trigger flooding and landslides in highly to very highly susceptible areas," it adds.

December 27, 2019 - 7:27am

As of 6 a.m. Friday, the NDRRMC says the death toll in the aftermath of Typhoon Ursula rose to 28. Of this number, four deaths are recorded in Capiz, two in Aklan, 13 in Iloilo, one in Cebu, one in Southern Leyte, two in Leyte, one in Biliran, three in Eastern Samar and one in Western Samar.

Two are recorded injured in Iloilo while 12 people are still missing.

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