Yolanda lashes out with 225 to 260 kph winds, heavy to intense rain

Published November 8, 2013 3:12am

Yolanda has maximum sustained winds of 225 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 260 kph as it moves closer to the Visayas, from 170 kilometers southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, PAGASA said early Friday morning, as it raised Storm Signal No. 4 over 20 areas.

PAGASA also said Yolanda brings heavy to intense rainfall of 10 to 30 millimeters with in its 600 kilometer diameter.

At least 14,389 people were evacuated from their homes in parts of Visayas and Mindanao due to the threat from Typhoon Yolanda.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council's 6 p.m. update indicated 910 families or 3,823 people were brought to 14 evacuation centers.

It said the affected families were from Tacloban City and Tolosa in Leyte; Catbalogan, Eastern Samar; Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte; and Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental.

Of these, 738 families or 3,015 people were from Tacloban City in Leyte.

In Central Visayas, state-run Philippine Information Agency said that as of 8 p.m., another 1,935 families or 10,566 people were evacuated.

Storm Signals:

Signal #4 - ( >185 kph winds may be expected in at least 12 hours)

Masbate
Ticao Island
Southern Sorsogon
Romblon
Northern Samar
Eastern Samar
Samar
Leyte
Southern Leyte
Biliran
Northern Cebu
Cebu City
Bantayan
Camotes Islands
Northern Negros Occidental
Capiz
Aklan
Antique
Iloilo
Guimaras

Signal #3 - (Winds of >100 to 185 kph may be expected in at least 18 hours)

Rest of Sorsogon
Burias Island
Albay
Marinduque
Occidental Mindoro
Oriental Mindoro
Calamian Group of Islands
Rest of Negros Occidental
Negros Oriental
Rest of Cebu
Bohol
Surigao del Norte
Siargao Island
Dinagat Province

Signal #2 - (winds of >60 to 100 kph may be expected in at least 24 hours)

Catanduanes
Camarines Sur
Southern Quezon
Laguna
Batangas
Rizal
Metro Manila
Cavite
Bataan
Lubang Islands
Northern Palawan
Siquijor
Camiguin
Surigao Del Sur
Agusan Del Norte

Signal #1 - (30-60 kph winds may be expected in at least 36 hours)

Camarines Norte
Rest of Quezon
Polilio Island
Bulacan
Pampanga
Zambales
Rest of Northern Palawan
Puerto Princesa
Misamis Oriental
Agusan del Sur

In Bohol province, aftershocks from last month's magnitude-7.2 quake and the threat from Typhoon Yolanda are hounding residents of a town hit hard by October's deadly tremor.

Residents in Loon town are still feeling aftershocks and are worried about the "combination" of the typhoon and tremors, state-run Philippine Information Agency reported Thursday afternoon.

"(In Loon, Bohol), aftershocks still felt here, (and) people (are) worried (about the) possibility of combination of typhoon and shocks happen," it said.

Loon folk are still recovering from the effects of last month's magnitude-7.2 quake.

Precautions

Use flashlights instead of candles, and shut down circuit breakers in case of flooding.

These were the reminders issued by Manila Electric Co. and the Bureau of Fire Protection to residents who may be affected by Yolanda.

The Bureau of Fire Protection in Siquijor urged residents to avoid using candles in case of power failures and to use flashlights instead.

"BFP reminds residents to avoid use of candles, instead use flashlights," state-run Philippine Information Agency reported.

Siquijor, one of the areas projected to be in the path of Yolanda, is still recovering from a magnitude-7.2 quake that hit Central Visayas last Oct. 15.

For its part, Meralco advised residents to shut off the main circuit breaker if their houses are flooded.

"Bago pasukin ng baha ang bahay, makabubuting patayin ang main circuit breaker para iwas aksidente (Before entering a flooded house, it is better to shut off the main circuit breaker to avoid accidents)," it said. — ELR, GMA News

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