LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, Philippines —Disaster officials placed Bicol region on red alert on Saturday ahead of the expected arrival of Typhoon Bising (international name: Surigae).
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said at 4 p.m. of Saturday that Bising was spotted 460 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, moving west northwestward at 25 kilometers per hour with winds of 195 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 240 kph.
Bising was forecast to further intensify and reach its peak intensity of up to 205 kph by Sunday, Pagasa added.
Typhoon Signal No. 2 was hoisted in Catanduanes and Eastern Visayas provinces of Northern Samar, Eastern Samar and Samar.
Under Storm Signal No. 1 were Sorsogon, Albay, the eastern portion of Camarines Sur, the eastern portion of Masbate, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, and Camotes Islands, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur.
The Philippine Coast Guard canceled sea voyages from Matnog, Sorsogon and Tabaco City in Albay bound for Visayas and Catanduanes, stranding at least 574 passengers.
Ferry services suspended
The Coast Guard in Bicol also suspended ferry services at the ports of Matnog and Pilar in Sorsogon, stranding seven vessels, 131 trucks, 65 cars and two buses, said Gremil Alexis Naz, spokesperson for the Office of Civil Defense in Bicol.
The Land Transportation Office canceled travels via buses, trucks and private cars to avoid congestion at the ports.
Camarines Sur Gov. Miguel Luis Villafuerte also ordered the preemptive evacuation of families in high risk areas while Albay Gov. Al Francis Bichara advised towns and cities in low-lying areas to prepare for possible flood, flash floods and lahar flows.
So far, Pagasa said Bising had not caused severe weather conditions in any portion of the country, but the strong winds and heavy rain might affect portions of Eastern Visayas and Bicol regions on Sunday.
As of Friday afternoon, Bising was 895 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, and was moving at 15 kilometers per hour. The weather disturbance was packing maximum winds of up to 130 kph and gusts of up to 160 kph.
Pagasa said there was a high pressure ridge hindering the speedy movement of Bising.
Landfall less likely
Pagasa weather specialist Raymond Ordinario said they were monitoring the ridge of the high pressure area as this would be the main factor that would contribute to the track of Bising.
Based on the predicted track, Bising was less likely to make landfall as it was forecast to move generally west-northwestward.
By Saturday afternoon, the typhoon was expected to be 480 km east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar. It is forecast to make a close approach to land mass on Sunday afternoon, when it will be 295 km east of Catarman, Northern Samar.
On Monday, Bising’s track is forecast to recurve and will be 285 km east-northeast of Virac, Catanduanes.
But Ordinario said there was also a possibility the ridge would weaken, giving the typhoon a chance to accelerate north.