Bicol on red alert for storm ‘Ambo’

Pagasa satellite image as of 2:00 PM, May 12, 2020

LEGAZPI CITY—A red alert was raised on Tuesday (May 12) over the Bicol region as it braces for the impact of Tropical Depression Ambo, which was expected to make landfall on Albay or Sorsogon.

Ambo, which was expected to intensify into a severe tropical storm according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), will make landfall early Thursday (May 14).

Claudio Yucot, chair of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), issued the red alert memo, urging local disaster offices to be ready to respond to the impending disaster.

Yucot, who is also the director of the Office of Civil Defense in Bicol, ordered the setting up of holding areas and choke points for trucks headed to ports.

Starting Wednesday (May 13) noon, a no-sailing policy would also be implemented in the ports.

Facilities that were not used for COVID-19 response would be used as additional evacuation sites for families in areas at risk of flooding, landslides, and strong winds.

Albay is still under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) while other Bicol provinces are under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) due to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

The region has so far recorded 62 cases of COVID-19, 50 of which are in Albay, 10 are in Camarines Sur. The provinces of Catanduanes and Camarines Norte have each recorded one case.

Edited by TSB