Pagasa, OCD issues flood, landslide alert as low pressure area nears
MANILA, Philippines—A low pressure area off Eastern Visayas threatens to turn into a cyclone within 24 hours, prompting the state weather bureau to warn people living in low-lying areas or near mountain slopes of possible flash floods and landslides.
The Office of Civil Defense in Eastern Visayas (OCD-8) has also called on local government units in the region to prepare for floods and landslides.
Cherelyn Lubang, administrative officer of the Office of Civil Defense in Eastern Visayas (OCD-8), also advised fishermen against going out to sea for their own safety because the waters were going to be rough.
She said the LGUs should activate their respective disaster councils in anticipation the expected heavy rains.
“The disaster risk reduction management council of the LGUs should now conduct their emergency meetings and they should constantly monitor weather conditions,” she said.
Mayor Annaliza Kwan of Guiuan said it has been raining in Guiuan since Friday.
“But it’s all heavy rains without winds,” she said.
Still, the mayor said, she already activated the town’s disaster risk reduction management council for any eventuality.
Based on satellite and surface data, the the low pressure area was observed Friday morning some 450 km east of Borongan, Eastern Samar, and would be called “Gener” if it gathered enough strength, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said. It was expected to intensify in the next 24 hours.
“Residents living in low lying areas and along mountain slopes are advised to be on alert for possible occurrence of flash floods and landslides,” the weather bureau said in an advisory.
Another low pressure area was estimated at 530 kms east northeast of Aparri, Cagayan, but this one was not expected to turn into a storm, Pagasa said.
Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms, while there will be widespread rains over the Bicol region and eastern parts of Visayas and Mindanao, possibly triggering flash floods and landslides, it said.
The rest of Luzon, including Metro Manila, will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
“Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over Northern and Central Luzon and coming from the southwest to west over the rest of the country,” Pagasa said.
Coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough, it added.
Originally posted at 3:32 p.m.
