MANILA, Philippines – Evacuees in Albay and Camarines Sur provinces have begun going home after the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Asronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) confirmed that Typhoon “Chedeng” would no longer hit the Philippines, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Friday.
A total of 53,840 families or 262,374 persons living in flood and landslide-prone areas were evacuated to nearby schools, village halls and chapels in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and Sorsogon.
On Thursday, a landslide occurred between the villages of Tibang and Barihay, San Andres, Catanduanes. No casualties were reported and local government units, the district public works department and Philippine National Police disaster units have been conducting clearing operations.
But one man was reported to have drowned in Catanduanes province despite President Benigno Aquino III’s “no casualty’ order. The NDRRMC identified the casualty as Jaime Torillos, 70 years old and a resident of Barangay (village) Biong, Gigmoto, Catanduanes.
Likewise, initial reported damages to agriculture and infrastructure have reached P11.46 million, the NDRRMC added. At least 20 houses in Bukidnon and Davao del norte were reported totally damaged while 23 other houses were partially damaged in Lanao del Norte and also in Bukidnon.
Chedeng, which was reported to make landfall in Northeast Luzon on Friday has veered towards Okinawa, Japan, Pagasa said Thursday.
In its latest weather bulletin Pagasa said that as of 10 a.m., Chedeng was seen 210 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan and has maintained its strength at 195 kph near the center and gusts of up to 230 kph.
Chedeng is expected to move at 19 kph north northwestward.
Signal No. 2 remains raised over the Batanes and Babuyan groups of islands while only the provinces of Apayao, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino and Aurora remain under Signal No. 1. Storm signals elsewhere have been lowered, Pagasa said.
By Saturday morning, Chedeng is expected to be 290 km northeast of Basco, Batanes and by Sunday morning the typhoon is forecast to be 710 km northeast of Basco, Batanes or 100 km south of Okinawa, Japan, Pagasa said.