Yolanda hits land, 58 areas under storm signals

Screen grab from https://noah.dost.gov.ph/ as of 05:00 am, November 08, 2013

MANILA, Philippines—Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: “Haiyan”) made landfall as early as 4:30 a.m. Friday in Guiuan, Eastern Samar. It was earlier expected to land at 5 a.m.

In its 5 a.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Yolanda was observed 62 kilometers southeast of Guiuan, packing maximum sustained winds of 235 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 275 kph.

Washington Post described Yolanda as “among the most powerful storms witnessed anywhere in modern times.”

“Widespread destruction, unfortunately, seems inevitable,” it said.

Storm signals were raised in more areas, according to Pagasa:

Signal No. 4

Masbate

Ticao Island

Southern Sorsogon

Romblon

Northern Samar

Eastern Samar

Samar

Leyte

Southern Leyte

Biliran

Northern Cebu

Cebu City

Bantayan

Camotes Islands

Northern Negros Occidental

Capiz

Aklan

Antique

Iloilo

Guimaras

Dinagat Province

Signal No. 3

Rest of Sorsogon

Burias Island

Albay

Marinduque

Occidental Mindoro

Oriental Mindoro

Calamian Group of Islands

Rest of Negros Occidental

Negros Oriental

Rest of Cebu

Bohol

Surigao del Norte

Siargao Island

Signal No. 2

Catanduanes

Camarines Sur

Southern Quezon

Laguna

Batangas

Rizal

Metro Manila

Cavite

Bataan

Lubang Islands

Northern Palawan

Puerto Princesa

Siquijor

Camiguin

Surigao del Sur

Agusan del Norte

Signal No. 1

Camarines Norte

Rest of Quezon

Polilio Island

Bulacan

Pampanga

Zambales

Misamis Oriental

Agusan del Sur

Areas under storm signals were alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Those areas under Signal Nos. 2, 3 and 4 were alerted against storm surges that may reach up to seven meters.

Yolanda is expected to traverse the provinces of Biliran, the northern tip of Cebu, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Romblon, Semirara Island, the southern part of Mindoro then Busuanga and will exit the Philippine landmass early Saturday toward the West Philippine Sea, Pagasa said.

Sea travel remained risky over the seaboards of northern Luzon and over the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon.

Originally posted at 05:43 am |Friday, November 8, 2013