‘Nina’ to enter PAR Thursday or Friday; trip cancellations imminent

SCREENGRAB FROM Pagasa’s Facebook page

Tropical storm “Nina” is set to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Thursday evening or early Friday morning, a few days before Christmas Day, the state weather bureau said.

In its 11 a.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Nina packed maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

The tropical storm was last plotted at 1,380 kilometers east of Mindanao as it moved west northwest at 23 kph.

In a press briefing, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council spokesperson Romina Marasigan said Nina may make landfall over Bicol on Saturday evening or early Sunday morning.

Marasigan said the weather disturbance will also affect Northern Samar, Calabarzon, Metro Manila, and parts of Region 1 and Central Luzon.

She also warned residents of the said areas against evacuation due to possible flash floods, landslides or lahar flow.

“Naka heightened alert na rin ang Department of Health (DOH) at Department of Public Works and Highways… Ang DOH ay ina-assure tayo na ang ating mga ospital ay handang tumanggap sa kung ano mang emergency,” Marasigan said.

“Napakahalaga na nandoon tayo sa pinakamataas na antas ng paghahanda para sa ating mga kababayan,” she added.

Marasigan advised passengers going home to the provinces for the Christmas holidays to coordinate with bus lines and sea lines due to possible cancellations of their trips.

“Inaasahan na ang mga pantalan, bus terminal ay maging handa sakaling may mastranded… Kung ang schedule ng tickets niyo ay Dec. 24, makipag-ugnayan na po kayo sa bus lines at sea lines. Baka magkaroon ng cancellations,” she added. RAM/rga

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