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
