Pagasa: ‘Ramil’ to hit 4 provinces; 7 areas under signal 1

At least four provinces in Northern Luzon may be hit hardest by typhoon “Ramil" (Lupit) when it makes landfall later this week, state weather forecasters said Tuesday. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has placed seven areas under Signal No. 1 as the cyclone drew near North Luzon Tuesday. “Yung dadaanan mismo, base sa data available as of this morning, ay ang Cagayan, Apayao, Ilocos Norte at Batanes (Based on our data as of this morning, it will likely hit Cagayan, Apayao, Ilocos Norte and Batanes)," Pagasa head Prisco Nilo said in an interview on dzXL radio. Also, Nilo said Ramil will be more powerful than tropical cyclone “Pepeng" (Parma), which devastated Northern Luzon and lingered around the area for a week, making landfall three times. Earlier, Defense Secretary and National Disaster Coordinating Council head Gilberto Teodoro Jr. called on those living in risk-areas in northern Luzon provinces to evacuate already before it’s too late. The warning was specifically addressed to residents in landslide-prone areas in Benguet and Mt. Province in the mountainous Cordillera region. The two provinces, including the popular mountain resort city of Baguio, were the worst-hit by landslides at the height of typhoon Pepeng two weeks ago. The typhoon killed more than 300 people and isolated many areas due to road closures and destroyed infrastructure. Preparing for Ramil’s imminent onslaught, local government units, local disaster coordinating units and various national government agencies are bracing for the typhoon. More powerful than Ondoy, Pepeng In the radio interview, Nilo said typhoon Pepeng had winds of 175 kph when it made landfall while storm “Ondoy" (Ketsana), which came a week earlier, had winds of 85 kph. But the approaching Ramil has winds of 195 kph near the center. “Talagang mas malakas si ‘Ramil’ at ang ulan nito mas marami, 20-25 mm per hour. Pwede ito magpabaha at mag-cause ng landslides (Ramil is more powerful than the two cyclones preceding it, with rains estimated ate 20 to 25 milliliters per hour. It can cause floods and landslides)," he said. However, he said there is still a chance Ramil would change course and head for Taiwan. Pagasa forecaster Arnel Gonzales said that while their data shows Ramil is likely to make landfall in Cagayan province Thursday, atmospheric conditions could still cause the cyclone to go to Taiwan. Gonzales also said that it is possible Ramil would turn into a super-typhoon once its winds near the center reach 215 kph or higher. “Araw-araw nagbabago ang factor sa atmosphere kaya maaring mag-iba na naman ang track nito (Atmospheric factors change so its track may still change)," he said in an interview on dzBB radio. Ramil's location

In its 5 a.m. advisory, Pagasa said Ramil maintained its strength as it continues to move toward Northern Luzon. As of 4 a.m., it was estimated at 890 km east northeast of Aparri, Cagayan, with maximum sustained winds of 195 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph. Ramil is forecast to move west at 17 kph and be 560 km east-northeast of Aparri in Cagayan by Wednesday morning, and 160 km east northeast of Aparri Thursday morning. By Friday morning it is expected to be 40 km west of Laoag City. Areas under Storm Signal No. 1 are the Batanes Group of Islands, Cagayan, Calayan, Babuyan Islands, Apayao, Kalinga, and Isabela. Meanwhile, Pagasa said the whole country will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. Metro Manila must prepare, too Pagasa weather bureau Chief Nathaniel Cruz said that Metro Manila might not be spared from the effects of Ramil, as the cyclone might have an “event radius" of about 500 kilometers. In an interview on dzBB on Monday, he asked outdoor advertisers in Metro Manila to put down their billboards. “Isa yan siguro sa paghahanda na gagawin (that could be part of our preparations). The National Capital Region must prepare for powerful winds, and that large billboards must be put down as they might pose a danger if they collapsed, he added. Regional preparations Meanwhile, Northern Luzon officials continued to prepare for Ramil’s onslaught. In Ilocos Norte, Laoag City Mayor Michael Fariñas said he has held a staff meeting in the provincial government, to ensure enough relief goods are stockpiled. In Benguet, authorities preemptively evacuated families to avoid a repeat of the devastation caused by tropical cyclone Pepeng, according to a report on dwIZ radio. Several residents in Benguet were killed after being buried in landslides caused by Pepeng. The Philippine Air Force said it continues to airlift relief items to Northern Luzon in preparation for Ramil. “More of transportation, nag-transport na tayo ng relief goods sa Batanes (Our role is more of transportation. We had transported relief goods to Batanes)," PAF spokesman Col. Gerardo Zamudio Jr. said in an interview on dzXL radio. Meanwhile, while government prepares material resources to head off possible loss of life, Church officials in Bicol made their preparations through prayer. The Legazpi Diocese in Albay published an “Oratio Imperata" (obligatory prayer) as a full-page ad in the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper. It said the prayer is to be recited at mass after communion. “We turn to you our loving father and beg forgiveness for our sins ... We ask that we, our loved ones and our hard-earnied possessions, be spared from the threat of calamities, natural and man-made," the prayer said. - GMANews.TV