By Brian Campued
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 has been raised over eight provinces as Tropical Storm Ramil (international name: Fengshen) slightly intensified Saturday morning.
As of 10:00 a.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Ramil was located over the coastal waters of Palapag, Northern Samar, and is moving west-southwestward at 20 kph.
Ramil packs maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.
“Sa ngayon nga po mapapansin natin na yung sentro nitong si Bagyong Ramil ay napakalapit na nga po sa northeasternmost portion nitong Northern Samar kaya’t tumataas na nga po yung tiyansa na magkaroon ito ng landfall scenario,” PAGASA weather specialist Leanne Loreto said in a public briefing.
Loreto said that Ramil is forecast to make another landfall over Catanduanes later afternoon or evening while the possibility of a landfall scenario over Albay or Sorsogon is also increasing as the tropical storm approaches Bicol Region.
Afterwards, Ramil will move west-northwestward towards mainland Bicol and Polillo Islands before making another landfall in Aurora on Sunday morning or afternoon, Oct. 19.
The state weather bureau noted that other landfall scenarios are possible over northern Quezon or southern Isabela instead of Aurora due to the “cone of uncertainty” in Ramil’s track.
“Posible pa po kasi yung track nitong Bagyong Ramil ay mag-southward or mag-northward shift pa rin,” Loreto stressed. “Kaya para po sa mga nasa loob pa ng ating cone of uncertainty ay inaabisuhan po natin yung ating mga kababayan dyan na maghanda pa rin kahit hindi po sila yung direct hit ng sentro nitong si Bagyong Ramil.”
TCWS No. 2 is hoisted over the northern portion of Aurora (Casiguran, Dilasag, Dinalungan), Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, the northern portion of Camarines Sur (Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, San Jose, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Presentacion), the extreme eastern portion of Albay (Rapu-Rapu), the northeastern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz), and the northeastern portion of Northern Samar (Laoang, Palapag, Mapanas, Pambujan, San Roque, Mondragon, Gamay).
Wind Signal No. 1 is likewise raised over the following areas:
- Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
- Isabela
- Quirino
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Apayao
- Abra
- Kalinga
- Mountain Province
- Ifugao
- Benguet
- Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- La Union
- Pangasinan
- Rest of Aurora
- Nueva Ecija
- Eastern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, Norzagaray, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, San Rafael, Angat)
- Eastern portion of Tarlac (Camiling, San Clemente, Santa Ignacia, Paniqui, Moncada, San Manuel, Anao, Ramos, Pura, Victoria, City of Tarlac, La Paz, Concepcion, Gerona)
- Eastern portion of Pampanga (Magalang, Arayat, Candaba)
- Northern and eastern portions of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Unisan, Gumaca, Plaridel, Agdangan, Pagbilao, Mauban, Calauag, Guinayangan, Lopez, Pitogo, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, San Narciso, Buenavista, San Francisco, San Andres, Mulanay, General Nakar, Infanta, Real, Sampaloc)
- Rest of Camarines Sur
- Rest of Albay
- Rest of Sorsogon
- Burias Island
- Ticao Island
- Northern Samar
- Northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Oras, Dolores, Maslog, Jipapad, Taft, Can-Avid)
- Northern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Calbayog City, Gandara, Santa Margarita, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, Tagapul-An, Almagro, Santo Niño, Tarangnan, Paranas, City of Catbalogan, Jiabong, Motiong)
In terms of heavy rains, Ramil will bring heavy to intense rains over Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar until Sunday noon.
Moderate to heavy rains are forecast over Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Cagayan, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Marinduque, Romblon, Masbate, Cebu, Bohol, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Surigao del Norte, and Dinagat Islands within 24 hours.
Strong winds may topple trees and damage houses made of light materials while heavy rains may cause flooding and landslides.
Residents in low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Romblon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, and Zambales are advised to stay away from the coast and cancel all marine activities due to possible storm surge that may reach 1 to 2 meters within 48 hours.
“Meron na nga po tayong nakataas na gale warning sa may eastern seaboards ng southern Luzon kabilang na ang Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, at Camarines Norte kaya’t pinagbabawal po yung paglalayag ng ating mga kababayang mandaragat,” Loreto said.
-jpv
