As Chedeng nears, Baler's waves beautiful but dangerous, NDRRMC warns

They may be a sight to behold and surely even more spectacular to ride, but the waves in Baler, Aurora may already be too dangerous for surfers as Typhoon Chedeng heads towards Luzon, an official of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management warned on Thursday.

"Maganda man ang surf ngayon at bukas, hindi po ito ordinaryo dahil sa pagpasok ni Chedeng. Peligro na po iyan," NDRRMC executive director Undersecretary Alexander Pama said in a news briefing.

"Alam ko maganda ang waves, pero delikado na po iyon, may bagyo po, delikado," he stressed.

On the part of the Department of Interior and Local Government, DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero appealed to the fishermen and other residents in affected areas to refrain from going out into the sea.

"'Yung mga namamangka o recreational activities, simula po sa susunod na araw, kailangang limitahan o huwag nang i-allow ang paggamit ng sasakyang pandagat para maging ligtas," he said.

He noted that once a public storm signal has been raised, the Philippine Coast Guard may ban all sea travel.

Local officials

Local officials of Baler in Aurora said Thursday they have warned tourists—particularly surfers—about the potential threat of Typhoon Chedeng, which entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility before midnight Wednesday.

Baler Mayor Nelianto Bihasa said that while the weather was calm as of early Thursday, town officials have informed tourists of possible bad weather from Chedeng.

"'Yung iba (surfer) sinabihan namin may bagyo," he said in an interview on dzBB radio.

Once Chedeng starts affecting the province, he said they will prohibit surfing in the area.

He said that as of Thursday morning, tourists continued to flock to Baler.

Surfing activities also continued in Baler as of Thursday, he added.

Chedeng is expected to start bringing rain to parts of Luzon on Friday. Aurora is one of the areas where Chedeng may possibly make landfall.

But as of 6 a.m. Thursday, there was no sign of bad weather yet, the mayor said.

"Mainit at walang hangin. Makulimlim. May kaunting ambon," he said. -with a report from Joel Locsin/NB, GMA News