PH braces for typhoon ‘Nona’

SCREENGRAB from Project Noah

An estimated 700,000 persons were pre-emptively evacuated in the provinces of Albay and Sorsogon and in Northern Samar in anticipation of typhoon “Nona” (international name: “Melor”).

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Monday that 161,014 families or 724,839 persons were evacuated due to the said typhoon.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned of flashfloods and landslides due to the heavy to at times intense rains to be dumped by Nona.

In Sorsogon, 26,972 families or 134,870 persons were pre-emptively taken to shelter on Sunday night. In Albay, 133,905 families or 589,235 persons were also evacuated ahead.

In Northern Samar, 137 families or 734 persons have been evacuated as of Monday morning.

The typhoon also caused 40 domestic flights to be canceled and stranded 7,934 passengers in ports due to rough sea conditions.

The NDRRMC was placed on red alert as of Sunday noon in order for all personnel to be on their posts as the typhoon continues to threaten the country.

READ: ‘Nona’ makes landfall in Northern Samar; Signal No. 3 up in 10 areas

Nona made landfall in Batag, Northern Samar midday Monday and is expected to make a second landfall over Sorsogon at night.

The typhoon is nearly the same path as Super Typhoon Yolanda, which killed about 6,000 people in 2013. Samar was one of the provinces hardly hit by Yolanda, one of the strongest typhoons to hit the country.

READ: Strong tropical storm ‘Nona’ threatens PH

Metro Manila, which is currently under Signal No. 1, may start to feel the effects of the typhoon starting Monday night.

Storm signals were raised in several provinces, and storm surges of up to four meters are expected in coastal areas under Signals No. 2 and 3. RAM/JE

READ: Signal 1 up in Metro Manila, 14 areas; ‘Nona’ to landfall over Sorsogon