Thousands evacuated in Bicol ahead of ‘Chedeng’
MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) Thousands of families have been preemptively evacuated in Region 5 (Bicol) as Typhoon “Chedeng” (International codename: Sonda) intensifies while continuing to move towards northeast of Luzon, the state-run disaster council said Thursday.
In its latest situation report, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said a total of 13,322 families or 63,964 persons were evacuated from 153 villages in Albay as of Wednesday afternoon.
However, this is but a fraction of the 49,893 families or 250,42 persons targeted for evacuation in 497 villages which are at high risk for possible landslides, flash floods, lahar flows or storm surges in the province of Albay.
Also in Albay, a total of 3,350 passengers were stranded in the 16 ports in Albay, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur while in Region 8, 3,490 passengers and 195 vehicles were also marooned in Allen, Northern Samar and Cebu.
In the four ports of Batangas, a total of 764 passengers are stranded, the NDRRMC reported.
Meanwhile, the NDRRMC and related government agencies are on high alert and ready for any eventuality in accordance with the “zero-casualty” order given by President Benigno Aquino III earlier this week.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development has allotted P3.50 million stand-by funds and P25.38 million worth of relief supplies in provinces expected to be affected by Chedeng.
The Department of Public Works and Highways has also deployed heavy equipment like trucks, payloaders, bulldozers and backhoes in Region 5 and the Codillera Administrative Region and activated their Disaster Quick Response teams.
The Philippine Coast Guard has also declared full alert and its auxiliary units have their assets and equipment on standby for immediate deployment.
PCG Commandant Vice Admiral Ramon Liwag said that two teams composed of rescue divers and medical personnel were deployed to Isabela to secure the public from the possible effects of the typhoon.
Liwag said in a statement that the two teams were equipped with enough rubber boats, medical supplies and other provisions to provide support to communities in Isabela for a week.
In its latest weather bulletin, Pagasa said that as of 4 a.m. Chedeng was seen 270 kilometers east-northeast of Virac, Catanduanes packing maximum sustatined winds of 160 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 195 kph.
The tyhoon is expected to move northwestward at 15 kph, Pagasa said.
Signal number 2 remains raised over Catanduanes, Sosogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Note and the Samar provinces while signal number 1 is still up over Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Aurora, Quezon, Marinduque, Masbate, Northern Leyte and the islands of Burias, Ticao and Biliran.
By Friday morning, Chedeng is expected to be 205 kilometers north of Virac, Catanduanes and by Saturday morning, it is forecast to be 70 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan.
By Sunday morning, the typhoon is expected to be 165 km north northeast or Basco, Batanes, the state-run weather bureau said. With a report from Karen Boncocan
