More families in Bicol evacuated as ‘Glenda’ nears

MANILA, Philippines – Around 60,000 families  in the Bicol region left their homes as typhoon “Glenda” gains strength and was last spotted in Albay Gulf , the weather bureau said Tuesday afternoon.

Rafaelito Alejandro IV, Director of Office for Civil Defense V, said the families trooped to the evacuation centers as early as 3 p.m. in anticipation of the typhoon which would make landfall in Albay Tuesday evening between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.

“We have some rains but it’s still OK here,” Alejandro said through phone.

Meanwhile, the provincial government of Camarines Sur evacuated Tuesday some 80,000 persons in the northeastern coastal towns of  Caramoan, Presentacion, Garchitorena, Tinambac and Lagonoy.

In its weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said that “Glenda” has intensified and slowed its pace, packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of 160 kph while moving at a speed of 19 kph.

Pagasa has placed Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Quezon including Polillo Islands, Marinduque, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Northern Samar, northern parts of Samar, and the northern part of Eastern Samar under public storm warning signal no. 3.

Southern Aurora, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Zambales, Lubang Island, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Biliran, rest of Samar, rest of Eastern Samar, northern part of Leyte province, and Metro Manila are placed under public storm warning signal no. 2.

Metro Manila is expected to be on the path of “Glenda” on Wednesday before noon at around 9 or 11 am.

Northern Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, rest of Leyte province, Southern Leyte, Northern Cebu, Cebu City, and Camotes Islands are under public storm warning signal no. 1.

Pagasa estimated that moderate to intense rains, or 7.5 mm to 20.0 mm, under the 500 km diameter of the typhoon.

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