8 areas still under Signal No. 2 as Bising slowly moves north-northwestward —PAGASA

Eight areas remained under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 as Typhoon Bising (international name: Surigae) maintained its strength while moving north-northwestward slowly, state weather bureau PAGASA said on Monday.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Signal No. 2 was raised over the following areas:

• Catanduanes
• the eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Garchitorena, Presentacion, Caramoan, Sagnay, San Jose, Lagonoy)
• the eastern portion of Albay (Tiwi, Malinao, Tabaco City, Malilipot, Santo Domingo, Bacacay, Rapu-Rapu, Legazpi City, Manito)
• the eastern and central portions of Sorsogon (Castilla, Sorsogon City, Prieto Diaz, Gubat, Barcelona, Casiguran, Juban, Magallanes, Bulan, Bulusan, Irosin, Santa Magdalena, Matnog)
• Northern Samar
• Samar
• Eastern Samar
• Biliran

Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 was hoisted in these areas:

• the southeastern portion of Cagayan (Baggao, Peñablanca)
• the eastern portion of Isabela (San Pablo, Maconacon, Tumauini, Divilacan, Ilagan City, Palanan, San Mariano, Dinapigue, San Guillermo, Echague, Benito Soliven, Cabagan, Gamu, Naguilian, Reina Mercedes, Angadanan, Cauayan City, Jones, San Agustin)
• the northeastern portion of Quirino (Aglipay, Maddela)
• the northern portion of Aurora ((Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan)
• the eastern portion of Quezon (Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Buenavista, San Narciso, San Andres) including Polillo Islands
• Camarines Norte
• the rest of Camarines Sur
• the rest of Albay
• the rest of Sorsogo
• Masbate including Burias and Ticao Islands
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• the northern portion of Cebu (Tabogon, Borbon, San Remigio, Bogo City, Medellin, Daanbantayan) including Bantayan and Camotes Islands
• Dinagat Islands
• Siargao Islands
• Bucas Grande Islands

PAGASA said as of 10 a.m., Bising was located at 235 kilometers east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes or 360 km east of Daet, Camarines Norte. It has maximum sustained winds of 195 km per hour and gustiness of up to 240 km/h.

Effects

According to Unang Balita reports on Monday, several areas in Bicol and Eastern Visayas experienced floods, landslides, and power outages due to Bising.

Meanwhile, a total of 18,467 families or 68,490 persons were evacuated from their homes in Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions due to Bising, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

In its update on Monday noon, the NDRRMC said 22 barangays in Eastern Visayas reported flooding amid the rains brought by the typhoon. It said two road sections and a bridge in Biliran and Easter Samar were not passable.

The NDRRMC said 19 areas in Cebu, Leyte, Southern Leyte, and Eastern Samar experienced power interruption, while a total of 2,213 passengers, 896 rolling cargoes, and 61 vessels were stranded in different ports in regions Bicol, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas due to suspension of operations.

At least 17 sea trips were cancelled in Central Visayas.

Forecast

PAGASA said Bising is seen to gradually weaken from its current intensity throughout the remainder of the forecast period.

On Monday, moderate to heavy with at times intense rains are expected over the Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran and the northern portion of Leyte, PAGASA said.

On Tuesday, moderate to heavy rains may prevail over Bicol Region and Northern Samar.

Meanwhile, light to moderate with at times heavy rains will be experienced over the northern portion of Aurora and the eastern portions of mainland Cagayan and Isabela.

Warning

PAGASA warned of flooding including flashfloods, and rain-induced landslides in areas identified in hazard maps as highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards.

The northeasterly wind flow enhanced by Bising will bring strong breeze to near gale conditions with higher gusts over most of Northern Luzon, Aurora, and the rest of Quezon that are not under any TCWS in the next 24 hours, PAGASA said.

Such conditions are more likely to occur in the coastal and mountainous areas, it added.

Very rough to very high seas of up to 12 meters are expected  over the eastern seaboard of Luzon, while  rough to very high seas up to seven meters over the northern and eastern seaboards of Eastern Visayas.

Sea travel is risky for all types of seacraft over these waters, PAGASA said.  --KBK, GMA News