Coastal areas in north Cebu being emptied as Tisoy lurks

CEBU CITY—Towns and cities in northern Cebu that are on Typhoon Tisoy’s path are being emptied in a preemptive evacuation effort aimed at preventing deaths when Tisoy strikes.

Typhoon signal No. 2 has been raised over the areas.

Neil Sanchez, provincial disaster mitigating officer, said residents of danger zones—coastal areas, landslide-prone areas and river banks—would be moved out of their homes and into shelters.

The preemptive evacuation plan was executed after a meeting at the provincial capitol of Cebu on Monday noon.

Sanchez if conditions turn from bad to worse, forced evacuation would be carried out. The critical time, he said, was between tonight and dawn of Tuesday.

As of 2 p.m. of Tuesday, Pagasa Central Visayas chief Al Quiblat said signal No. 2 has been raised in Daanbantayan, Bantayan, Madridejos, Santa Fe, Medellin, Bogo City, San Remegio, Tabogon, Tabuelan, Borbon, Sogod, Catmon, Asturias as well as towns in the Camotes group of Islands such as Poro, Pilar, San Fransisco, and Tudela.

Metro Cebu is under signal No. 1—Balamban, Toledo City, Pinamungajan, Aloguinsan, Naga City, Talisay City, Cordova, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Cebu City, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, Carmen, and Danao City.

Classes in elementary and high school have been suspended in several towns and cities in northern an Metro Cebu, said Gov. Gwen Garcia.

All sea trips had also been suspended in the provinces of Cebu and Bohol, according to the Philippine Coast Guard Central Visayas

In Cebu City, Mayor Edgar Labella also announced the suspension of classes in elementary and high school in all public and private schools.

The disaster management office in Lapu-Lapu City made a similar announcement on Monday morning.

Coast Guard Central Visayas spokesperson Lt. Junior Grade Michael Encina had announced no vessel would be allowed to leave port in Cebu and Bohol.

By Monday afternoon, light rains have been falling on Cebu City. Weak gusts of winds were also felt.

Several flights at the Mactan Cebu International Airport have been cancelled. These included those bound for Tacloban, Legazpi and Siargao.

Edited by TSB