‘Basyang’ claims third fatality, is downgraded
MTSAT ENHANCED-IR Satellite Image 3 a.m., 03 February 2014
MANILA, Philippines—Tropical Storm Basyang took a third life before weakening into a low pressure area over the weekend, the national disaster council said on Sunday.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) identified the third fatality in the second weather disturbance to hit the country this year as Dionisio Paler, 66, of Maasin City, Southern Leyte, whose body was recovered on a river bank in Barangay (village) Mabini, Macrohon town, on Saturday.
In its latest report, the NDRRMC said all public storm warning signals had been lowered, but cautioned fishing boats and other small vessels from venturing into waters off the eastern and southern seaboards of Luzon due to the effects of the northeast monsoon.
The council said Basyang (international name: Kajiki) triggered 14 landslides and flooding in several municipalities in Southern Leyte, and also caused a motorboat to capsize off Camotes Island, killing one crew member identified as Danny Condag.
Basyang affected a total of 9,105 families, or 42,413 people, in 176 villages in the nine provinces of Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Caraga regions, the NDRRMC said.
Article continues after this advertisementThe council said more than 5,600 people had been displaced and were staying in 32 evacuation centers.
Article continues after this advertisementIt said close to 6,000 passengers were still stranded while a total of 18 sea vessels and 576 rolling cargoes were marooned in 19 seaports in Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.
Temperatures rose a bit during the weekend, but the weather bureau said mornings would be cold again by Tuesday.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said minimum and slightly high temperatures of 24 degrees Celsius in Metro Manila and 15 degrees in Baguio City recorded Sunday morning would be felt until Monday.
Pagasa forecaster Jun Galang said warm winds from the Pacific Ocean blowing east to southeast across Luzon and the Visayas were causing the brief respite from the chilly northeasterlies.
Galang explained that the northeasterlies have slightly weakened, but this is only temporary.
Galang said that on Saturday morning, the lowest temperature recorded in Metro Manila was 22.5 degrees at around 5 a.m., while Baguio City was coldest at 4:40 a.m. with temperatures at 9 degrees.
Yesterday, Metro Manila was coldest at 24.2 degrees at around 6 a.m. and warmest at 32.9 degrees around 2:50 p.m.
The lowest temperature in Baguio City was 15 degrees, recorded at around 4 a.m.
Galang said the same temperature levels were to be expected in Metro Manila and Baguio City this morning.
“We expect the [northeasterly wind] to lower temperatures again by Tuesday,” Galang said.
The coldest day in Metro Manila so far was Jan. 26, at 15.8 degrees, while Baguio City was coldest this year on Jan. 19 at 8.1 degrees.
In its forecast for today, Pagasa said that with easterly winds blowing over Luzon and the Visayas, the whole archipelago will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.
Moderate to occasionally strong winds will prevail in Luzon and the Visayas where coastal waters will be moderate to occasionally rough.
Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate with slight to moderate seas.
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