Flood, landslide warning up in 33 provinces

HEAVY rains dumped by Typhoon “Ineng” (Goni) are threatening 33 provinces or 231 municipalities, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said on Thursday.

These 33 provinces prone to flash floods and landslides are:

-Abra

-Apayao

-Benguet

-Ifugao

-Kalinga

-Mountain Province

-Negros Occidental

-Ilocos Norte

-Ilocos Sur

-La Union

-Pangasinan

-Batanes

– Cagayan

-Nueva Vizcaya

-Aurora

-Nueva Ecija

-Pampanga

-Tarlac

-Zambales

-Occidental Mindoro

-Oriental Mindoro

-Zamboanga del Sur

-Sorsogon

– Aklan

-Antique

-Capiz

– Iloilo

-Misamis Occidental

-Compostela Valley

-Davao Oriental

– Basilan

-Lanao del Sur

But NDRRMC Alexander Pama said in a press briefing that the list of provinces may change depending on the track and strength of the typhoon.

The list was based on the forecast models of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

“This (warning) was based on the volume of rains as well as the expected amount of rainfall,” Pama said.

The critical period for Ineng would be from Friday evening to Sunday night, he added.

Because of the typhoon, red alert was placed in regional civil defense officers in Ilocos, Cagayan and Cordillera as well as the NDRRMC Operations Center.

Local governments have been given hazard maps to help them plan their response measures, Pama said.

“Ordinary residents should also prepare. When authorities ask them to evacuate, they should prepare their bags, hampers or any container for their belongings,” he said.

In the same briefing, weather division chief Esperanza Cayanan, said 14 municipalities may experience storm surge namely:

ILOCOS NORTE

-Burgos

-Bangui

-Pagudpud

CAGAYAN

-Claveria

-Sanchez Mira

-Abulug

-Ballesteros

-Aparri

-Buguey

-Gonzaga

-Sta. Ana

-Palui Island

-Calayan Island

-Babuyan Island

In Gonzaga, Cagayan, Pama said a total of 202 persons or 70 families have been preemptively evacuated.

Robert Merinda, Pagasa weather forecaster, said by phone that Ineng is not likely to make landfall but it will be closest to Batanes by Friday afternoon. It is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Sunday afternoon.

Ineng was earlier forecast to make landfall but it recurved instead and was heading towards Taiwan.