Julian batters Batanes; help coming, says Marcos

STORMY DAY Classes and work in government offices in Baguio City are suspended on Monday as heavy rains and strong winds hit the city and most provinces in the Cordillera region, with Typhoon Julian (international name: Krathon) crossing northern Luzon. Baguio and the rest of Benguet province were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1. —Neil Clark Ongchangco

MANILA, Philippines — As Typhoon Julian (international name: Krathon) continues to gain strength, which weather forecasters say may reach supertyphoon category by late Monday, President Marcos has assured communities along the typhoon’s path that government help is on its way.

But the President said government agencies would have to wait for the typhoon’s heaviest rains to ease before they could assess the damage it had wrought.

READ: INQToday: Typhoon Julian to continue dumping rain; Signal no. 4 still up

“While we are here discussing innovation, the government is working [tirelessly] behind the scenes. Thousands of family food packs are now being prepared, health-care centers are on high alert and our farmers and fisherfolk are taking steps to safeguard their livelihoods,” Marcos said in a speech during the inauguration of the StB Giga Factory in Capas, Tarlac, on Monday.

In an earlier speech during the distribution of certificates of condonation to agrarian reform beneficiaries in Paniqui town, also in Tarlac, the President urged the public to take extra care as Julian was forecast to ravage Luzon with strong winds and heavy rains.

Track

In its 5 p.m. bulletin on Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) located the typhoon’s center at 95 kilometers west southwest of Itbayat, Batanes. Julian has maximum sustained winds of 175 km per hour (km/h) near the center and gusts reaching 215 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 was raised over Batanes, while Signal No. 3 was hoisted over the northern and western portions of Babuyan Islands.

Signal No. 2 was raised over the northern and western portions of mainland Cagayan, the rest of Babuyan Islands, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Ilocos Norte, and the northern and central portions of Ilocos Sur.

The rest of Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Benguet, the rest of mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, the northern portion of Aurora, and the northern portion of Nueva Ecija were under Signal No. 1.

TYPHOON WATCH This track forecast from the weather bureau Pagasa shows the location of Typhoon Julian until its expected exit from the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday. —DOST Pagasa

Pagasa’s weather advisory for Monday until Tuesday afternoon forecasts intense to torrential rain over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and Ilocos Norte; heavy to intense rain over mainland Cagayan, Apayao, Abra, Benguet, and the rest of the Ilocos region; and moderate to heavy rain for the rest of Cordillera.

According to the weather bureau, Julian is expected to move generally west-northwestward at 15 km/h over the Bashi Channel on Monday and may briefly exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) before it recurves toward the country on Tuesday.

The typhoon will then begin to move generally north-northeastward on Wednesday toward the southwestern coast of Taiwan, where it will make landfall on the same day.

Julian is forecast to finally exit PAR on Thursday as it accelerates northeastward toward the East China Sea.

Evacuation

In Cagayan, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Cagayan Valley said Benjie Castrence, 25, was electrocuted after he was hit by an electric pole toppled by strong winds in Santa Ana town.

According to the OCD, at least 29 families (95 people) were affected by the onslaught of Julian in Batanes, while 320 (1,015 people) were evacuated in Cagayan due to threats of floods and landslides since Monday morning.

Heavy rains forced the suspension of classes at all levels in 12 towns across Cagayan, with five other areas, including Tuguegarao City, suspending classes from kindergarten to senior high school.

Arriving and departing flights in airports in the Cagayan Valley and Ilocos regions were canceled on Monday.

Eric Apolonio, spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, said they could not yet confirm if Basco Airport sustained damage “since the communications lines are still down.”

As of its last report by 10 a.m., there was no internet connection at Basco Airport. Guards were on duty and secured the facilities and equipment in the airport.

In Tuguegarao City airport, scheduled commercial and general aviation flights were also canceled. There was no damage reported in the airport facilities despite the intense rainfall in the area.

No damage to facilities was also reported in Cauayan, Palanan, Bagabag and Itbayat airports.

Flights in Laoag International Airport were suspended due to deteriorating visibility caused by heavy rain.

Operations in Lingayen, Baguio, San Fernando, and Vigan airports were also suspended.

In the llocos region, several major roads were rendered impassable by floods, while power was cut off in several areas due to the torrential rains caused by Julian.

In Ilocos Norte’s Solsona town, some 370 families in Lipay and Nalasin villages were isolated after floodwaters destroyed temporary bridges connecting them to the town center. The bridges were initially damaged during Supertyphoon Egay (international name: Doksuri) in July and the construction of permanent replacements was still ongoing.

The Department of Public Works and Highways reported several road closures, including the Pancian-Adams Road, which was impassable to all vehicles, while the Paoay-Currimao Road was closed to light vehicles.

Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc announced the suspension of classes at all levels in both public and private schools, as well as the suspension of work in government offices.

“Our emergency hotlines are open, and we will work throughout the day to ensure your safety and the safety of the province,” Manotoc said in a statement.

The provincial governments of Ilocos Sur and La Union also issued similar suspensions on Monday as a precaution.

In the Cordillera, strong rains and winds prompted Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Apayao Gov. Elias Bulut Jr. to suspend work in government offices in their respective jurisdictions on Monday afternoon.

The Apayao-Ilocos Norte Road was impassable due to flood and river obstructions at Kabugao and Calanasan towns. The Abra-Ilocos Norte Road and the Abra-Kalinga Road were blocked by rockslides.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has activated its response and relief teams to assist communities affected by the disaster.

All PRC chapters in northern Luzon were continuously monitoring their areas of responsibility, and coordinating with their respective local governments for potential rescue and relief efforts. —with reports from Gillian Villanueva, Villamor Visaya Jr., John  Michael Mugas, Vincent Cabreza, Melvin Gascon, and Dexter Cabalza