Typhoon plunges Isabela in darkness

Authorities ordered people to leave coastal and mountainside areas as super typhoon "Paeng" (International codename: Cimaron) battered northern Luzon Sunday evening with sustained winds of up to 195 kph near the center and gustiness of 230 kph. The whole province of Isabela already lost power as of posting time. Authorities warned residents living along the coast of Isabela, southern Cagayan, Quirino and northern Aurora to leave their homes because of threats of big waves. "May posibilidad na magkakaroon ng storm surge," Science and technology Undersecretary Graciano Yumol said. He said a storm surge or 30-meter high waves may hit the coast of the four provinces where Storm Signal No. 4 was raised. "Kung pwede i-evacuate na lahat ng mga nasa coastal regions," Yumol said. "I appeal to you not to venture out if there is no need for that. Let's follow the order of our officials and let us all pray," President Arroyo said in a message broadcast over nationwide radio Sunday afternoon. Parts of Northern Luzon — Isabela, southern Cagayan, northern Aurora, and Quirino provinces — are now under Storm Signal No. 4, the country's strongest signal level, with "Paeng" having turned into a super typhoon as it hit the Philippines Sunday evening. Under Signal No. 3 are the rest of Cagayan and Aurora, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya. Under Signal No. 2 are Calayan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Northern Bulacan, Northern Quezon, and Polilio Island. Under Signal no. 1 are the rest of Quezon, Bulacan, and Rizal; Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Tarlac, Pampanga, and Zambales. The weather bureau said that as of 5 p.m. Sunday, "Paeng" intensified with maximum sustained winds of 195 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph. It is forecast to move west northwest at 19 kph. "Paeng" is the first super typhoon to hit the country since 1998 when Storm Signal No. 4 was last raised due to super typhoons "Ilyang" and "Loleng." Motorists blocked The Philippine National Police on Sunday blocked all traffic to the provinces of Isabela, Cagayan, Quirino and Aurora. "We have to ensure that such precautions are made," said Health Secretary Francisco Doque, who chaired the meeting of the National Disaster Coordinating Council on Sunday. Doque said bus companies were warned to stop operations beyond Tarlac and San Jose City in Nueva Ecija. He said charges will be filed against bus companies that will ignore the advisories. "They could be charged and cases could be filed against them," Doque said. President Arroyo instructed the Department of Agriculture to make sure that food is available in the affected areas while the Health department put its personnel on "Code Red," meaning all hospital employees have to be in their posts. Quick response teams from the Social Welfare department have been ordered to be on stand-by for the possible evacuation of people in Regions 1, II, III, IV-A and the Cordillera Administrative Region. Metro Manila classes not suspended Classes in Metro Manila are not suspended on Monday despite the rain and strong winds brought about by super typhoon "Paeng," said Education Secretary Jesli Lapus. "‘Paeng’ will just pass by our area and by 10 a.m. (Monday) it will be (out) of the country," Lapus said. Lapus, however, said classes in all levels are suspended in areas where typhoon signals are raised. Some provinces spared Mayor Edwin Hamor of Casiguran town in Sorsogon province on Sunday voiced relief that his constituents seem to have been spared by "Paeng." "Hopefully we were spared. We did not experience strong winds or rains Saturday night, when we were placed under Signal 1," Hamor said in an interview on dzBB radio Sunday. Sorsogon and most of the Bicol region provinces were recently devastated by powerful typhoon "Milenyo." Despite this, however, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said it will help state weather forecasters monitor areas for landslides. Phivolcs director Renato Solidum Jr. said there remains the possibility of lahar from Mayon and Bulusan Volcanoes flowing to nearby areas. Mayon and Bulusan are under Alert Level 1, though Bulusan had an ash ejection last week. "There is still the possibility of lahar threatening areas around the volcanoes. If ‘Paeng’ brings heavy rains, this may trigger landslides, and we are monitoring this," Solidum said. - GMANews.TV