Evacuees in Catanduanes now at 19,000 due to threat of Typhoon Bising

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, Philippines – The number of evacuees in Catanduanes rose to 5,109 families or 19,119 persons on Sunday due to the threat of Typhoon Bising (international name Surigae).

Roberto Monterola, chief of Emergency Operations Center of the province, said as of 6 p.m., at least 112 families or 366 people were evacuated in Bagamanoc; 861 families or 3,052 people in Baras; 52 families or 230 people in Bato; 31 families or 119 people in Caramoran; 508 families or 2,002 people in Gigmoto; 32 families or 157 people in Pandan; and 200 families or 760 people in Panganiban.

In San Andres, 67 families or 247 people were also evacuated; 629 families or 2,775 people in San Miguel; 15 families or 69 people in Viga; and 2,602 families or 9,372 people in Virac.

Monterola said most of the evacuees were from coastal and low-lying areas prone to flash floods and storm surge.

In its 5 p.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Typhoon Bising slightly weakened and slowed down and was last tracked 290 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes.

It is moving west-northwestward at 15 kilometers per hour (kph) and has maximum sustained winds of 205 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 250 kph, according to Pagasa.

Catanduanes remains under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2.

/MUF