The Philippine Online Chronicles

The second tropical storm to enter the country this year, ‘Bebeng’, (international name: Aere) has intensified and will continue to pack strong winds and rain until Monday, as it heads towards Southern Luzon and Visayas, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophyiscal & Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

‘Bebeng’ made a landfall over Northern Catanduanes Saturday morning. Ten areas were immediately placed under signal no. 2.

As of 4:00 pm Sunday, Bebeng was estimated at 70 kilometers North of Daet, Camarines Norte with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph. Bebeng continues to move towards the Quezon-Aurora area in the northwest at 15 kph. Public storm signal no. 1 and 2 are raised in affected areas.

Storm Signal No. 2 is raised over the following areas: Isabela, Quirino, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Northern Quezon, Polillo Island, Nueva Viscaya, and Camarines Norte. Metro Manila and the following areas were placed under Storm Signal No. 1: Catanduanes, Albay, Burias Island, Camarines Sur, Southern Quezon, Marinduque, Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Bulacan, Bataan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Pangasinan, La Union, Benguet, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga, and Cagayan.

According to PAGA-ASA’s bulletin, residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes under signal no. 2 and no. 1 are advised to take all the necessary precautions against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas are alerted against big waves or storm surges generated by this tropical cyclone.

In a separate advisory, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRMMC) listed the following areas at risk to flooding due to slow rise of water: Lake Buhi in Buhi, Camarines Sur; Lake Bato in Bato, Nabua and Iriga in Camarines Sur; Libon, Polangui, Oas and Ligao in Albay; and Ombao, Baao and Bula also in Camarines Sur, according to Sunstar.com.ph.

Completing the list are Camaligan, Calabanga, Bombon, Magarao and Canaman in Naga City; and Gainza, Milaor, Minalabac, Pamplona, Cabusao, Libmanan, and Sipocot in Camarines Sur.

All Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Managements Councils through the Office of Civil Defense regional centers were directed to undertake precautionary measures in their respective area of responsibility.

Deaths, flight cancellations

NDRMMC’s situation report as of 6:00 pm, Sunday, indicated that at least nine people were killed because of drowning, landslide accidents, and electrocution, at separate incidents in Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, and Albay. One person was reported missing, 16-year-old Adrian Clark of Libon, Albay.

As of this morning, almost 100,000 people were evacuated in the Bicol region and some provinces in Eastern Visayas.

Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) officer-in-charge Ronald Flores said that at least 16,408 families or 83,561 persons have been affected by the tropical storm. Operations of passenger ships in the Bicol region were suspended, leaving almost 1,400 people stranded.

Since Saturday, the Coast Guard prohibited smaller seacrafts from leaving ports in Catanduanes and nearby areas, leaving thousands people stranded. Flights to Catanduanes and Samar were also cancelled.

PAGASA said Bebeng is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility by Tuesday.