Typhoon Bising leaves 1 dead, 3 injured in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines —  While Typhoon Bising did not hit Cebu directly, the effects of the typhoon left one dead and at least three injured in the province.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported that a female resident of Catmon town met her untimely death early dawn on Sunday when a coconut tree fell on the shanty she was sleeping at in Barangay Panalipan.

The woman was identified as Olivia Popoy, 47.

Her husband, Dennis, 45, sustained bruises.

“The said shanty is not their main house, as their house is located in cento Manlayag, Panalipan. The family usually farms sweet potato, and that the coconut trees were tall and old,” said Rhee Telen, Jr., spokesperson of PDRRMO.

Catmon was not among the local governments in northern Cebu placed under tropical cyclone signal warning because of Typhoon Bising but it still experienced strong winds.

On Sunday, April 18, Signal Number 1 was hoisted over Tabogon, Borbon, San Remigio, Bogo City, Medellin, Daanbantayan, Bantayan Island, and Camotes Islands.

A coconut tree also fell in Carmen town but no one was hurt.

Telen said what happened to Popoy should be a reminder for the public to be prepared if they are close to the path of the typhoon even if their areas are not identified to be hit directly by the weather disturbance.

"Angay gihapon adunay pagpangandam hilabi na sa atong kalungsoran kay kung atong tan-awon, wala maapil ang Catmon ug Carmen sa tropical cyclone signal warning, so dapat atong pagpangandam dili lang mag-base sa reports; family preparedness sad dapat. Atong tan-awon ang risgo sa atong palibot sa atong balay aron luwas ta pirmi, naa may bagyo o wala," Telen said.

Earlier, the Coast Guard reported that a fishing boat capsized after getting battered by strong currents and huge waves while sailing to Bantayan Island from San Remigio town past midnight Sunday.

Coast Guard Station Central Cebu acting commander Alvin Dagalea said the incident happened past midnight Sunda, less than an hour when they left shore at 11:30 p.m. Saturday.

The fishermen, Redemptor Cueva, 54, and Archie Mamposte, 25, are safe after they managed to swim back to shore. Coast Guard personnel also recovered their fishing boat.

Cueva and Mamposte are residents of Banitugan in Bantayan Island.

Meanwhile, residents of Pilar town in Camotes Islands experienced power interruption for three hours on April 18, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

While several towns were placed under Signal Number 1, no one had to be evacuated in Cebu but at least 360 passengers were stranded at different ports in the north.

Ninety were stranded in Danao City, 17 in Santa Fe, 169 in Daanbantayan, nine in Bogo, and 84 in San Remigio.

Status

Typhoon Bising will still continue to bring cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers today as Signal Number 1 is still in effect in some areas in Cebu.

PAGASA’s Severe Weather Bulletin 13 issued at 5 p.m. Monday said Typhoon Bising maintains its strength while moving slowly North-Northwestward East of Camarines Norte. It will move toward that direction until Wednesday evening or Thursday early morning.

Afterwards, the typhoon will move generally Northeastward or East-Northeastward away from the landmass of Luzon.

“The typhoon is forecast to gradually weaken from its current intensity throughout the forecast period,” it said.

PAGASA said areas effects in areas under signal number one may include very light or no damage to low risk structures; light damage to medium to high risk structures; and slight damage to some houses of very light materials or makeshift structures in exposed communities.

Wind and rain may also damage trees slightly but rice crops may incur significant damage when in the flowering stage. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, JMO (FREEMAN)