Source: Pagasa / DOST
MANILA, Philippines — At least 274 people have been evacuated ahead of the expected landfall of Tropical Depression “Usman” on Friday night or Saturday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.
According to NDRRMC Spokesperson Director Edgar Posadas, at least 274 people or 57 families have been evacuated in Eastern Visayas.
“‘Yung initial reports no, coming from Eastern Visayas, meron hong mga reported, although hindi pa rin ho kasi namin napa-finalize, ito ho’y galing sa situation report ng OCD [Office of Civil Defense] Region 8,” Posadas said over an interview with dzMM Friday afternoon.
Posadas so far noted that in the municipality of Palo in Leyte, approximately 17 families, or 74 people, were evacuated and relocated in a chapel while there were 40 families or 200 people that were reported to be evacuated in the province of Biliran. They will be housed temporarily in a gymnasium.
Meanwhile, the council expressed preparedness to extend help to those that will be affected by the tropical depression.
“On the part of the national government, nakahanda po tayo na tumugon dun sa mga kakailanganin nila, at tayo nga ho dito sa MDOC [Municipal Disaster Operations Center] ay naka-blue alert at katuwang ho yung iba pa nating regional offices,” Posadas said.
“Meron nga hong naka-red alert pa na mga regional offices kagaya ng Regional Office 5 natin, sa Mimaropa [Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan] sa 4B, astaka sa Region 7, on alert po lahat ngayon, lalo na ho ngayon na parang medyo stationary [yung Usman],” he added.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), in its latest weather update, said the weather disturbance was last spotted 285 kilometers East of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, at around 4 p.m.
It has maintained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center with a gustiness of up to 65 kph.
The state weather bureau said that “Usman” is expected to make could landfall over Eastern Samar between tonight or Saturday early morning.
READ: TD ‘Usman’ almost stationary over West Philippine Sea
It may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility between Sunday evening (Dec. 30) and Monday morning (Dec. 31),” Pagasa noted.
Tropical Cyclone Signal (TCS) No. 1 remains hoisted over 27 areas, which may experience winds of 30-60 kph and/or intermittent rain within the next 36 hours. /jpv