ADVERTISEMENT
Filtered By: Topstories
News

Tropical Storm Gorio accelerates, 37 areas under storm signals


+
Add GMA on Google
Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google.
(Updated 11:25 p.m.) - At 10:00 p.m. Saturday, PAGASA said Tropical Storm Gorio was 60 kilometers northeast of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

In its 11:00 p.m. storm bulletin, PAGASA said Gorio is seen moving west northwest at 24 kph and by Sunday evening it will be 350 kilometers northwest of Metro Manila. 

PAGASA weather models indicate that "Gorio" may cross Zambales and exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Monday evening.

Storm signals

Under Storm Signal Number 2, with winds of 61-100 kph expected in at least 24 hours, are:

  • Metro Manila
  • Pangasinan
  • Tarlac
  • Zambales
  • Nueva Ecija
  • Pampanga
  • Bulacan
  • Rizal
  • Bataan
  • Cavite
  • Laguna
  • Batangas
  • Mindoro Provinces
  • Lubang Island
  • Romblon
  • Marinduque
  • Quezon Province
  • Camarines Provinces
  • Albay
  • Burias Island

These areas are expected to sustain significant damage, including the uprooting of trees and unroofing of homes made from light materials.
 
PAGASA added that travel by air or sea is risky.

Under Storm Signal No. 1, with winds of 45-60 kph expected within the next 36 hours, are:

  • La Union
  • Benguet
  • Nueva Vizcaya
  • Quirino
  • Aurora
  • Polilio Island
  • Catanduanes
  • Sorsogon
  • Masbate
  • Ticao Island
  • Coron Island
  • Calamian Group of Islands
  • Capiz
  • Aklan 
  • Antique

Public Storm Warning Signals elsewhere were now lowered. 

"Residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under Signals 2 and 1 are alerted against possible flash floods and landslides," PAGASA warned.

The weather agency added that those living in coastal areas should keep alert against big waves or storm surges generated by "Gorio."

PAGASA also said "Gorio: may bring rainfall of 5 to 15 millimeter per hour (moderate to heavy) within its 300-km diameter.

Rainy Saturday evening in NCR

In a yellow rainfall advisory issued at 9:20 p.m., PAGASA said moderate to heavy rainfall is expected over much of Metro Manila.
 
  • Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela)
  • Quezon City
  • Marikina
  • Pasig
  • San Juan
  • Mandaluyong
  • Manila
  • Taguig
  • Makati
 
"Possible flooding in low-lying areas," it warned.

Flooding in Samar
 
On GMA Network's "Balitanghali" newscast on Saturday, Dolores Mayor Emilia Villacarillo of Easter Samar told reporter Jun Veneracion that the floods in the area were already at waist level.
 
Villacarillo noted that if the rains won't stop, floods may reach dangerous levels.

Residents of flood-prone areas have already been evacuated and there have been no casualties yet, she said.

Roads have become impassable and the only mode of transportation is through rivers, she added.

She also noted that the whole province of Eastern Samar has had no power supply since 9:00 p.m. on Friday and that communication has been difficult with weak mobile phone signals.
 
Villacarillo said crop damage is expected to be high as the planting season has already begun.

Stranded residents

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said at least 6,572 people in Regions V, VI, VIII and CARAGA were stranded Saturday afternoon due to bad weather conditions brought by "Gorio."

On its 2:00 p.m. update, the NDRRMC also said all ferry terminals in Eastern Samar, Western Samar and Northern Samar were suspended as of 6:00 a.m. on Friday.

Majority of the 6,572 stranded people are in Sorsogon (1,701), Cebu (1,625) and Catbalogan (1,718).

Masbate listed the most number of stranded vessels at 18 followed by Cebu and Sorsogon respectively with 12 and 10.

There were also 185 rolling cargoes stranded in Sorsogon while 10 motor boats were stranded in Surigao.

The stranded ships include 49 vessels, 318 rolling cargoes, and 13 motor boats.

Impassable roads

Several roads in Eastern Visayas were impassable, including:
  • Barangay San Pablo, Naval, Biliran (soil erosion)
  • Barangay Capokpok, Tabango, Leyte (flooding)

Power was tripped at:
  • Palanas Cara-Catarman 69KV Line, Northern Samar, restored 6:25 a.m.
  • Catarman-Allen 69KV line, parts of Northern Samar, restored 6:51 a.m.
  • Catarman-Bobolosan 69KV line, parts of Northern Samar
  • Wright-Taft-Borongan-McArthur 69KV line, Eastern Samar

Meanwhile, the Department of Health raised its alert to Code White (active monitoring) while the Department of Social Welfare and Development mobilized its quick response teams.

The Department of Public Works and Highways prepositioned heavy equipment in strategic areas.

 
Domestic flights cancelled
 
More domestic flights were canceled Saturday noon due to bad weather conditions brought by Tropical Storm Gorio (Rumbia), even as the Philippine Coast Guard warned small vessels in affected areas against going out to sea.
 
The Department of Transportation and Communications said at least six more flights, including those of PAL Express, Cebu Pacific and South East Asian Airlines, were canceled due to bad weather.
 

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it will ensure the strict implementation of the guidelines on the movement of vessels during heavy weather.
 
Vessels weighing 1,000 gross tons or below "shall not sail, except to take shelter, when (Signal No.) 1 is hoisted within its point of origin or route or point of destination." 
 
The movement of vessels above 1,000 gross tons is "left to the discretion and responsibility of the ship owner and master" when Signal No. 1 is hoisted within its point of origin or route or point of destination, it added.
 
However, vessels of any tonnage "shall not sail, except to take shelter, when (Signal No.) 2 or higher is hoisted within its point of origin or route or point of destination."

- with a report from Andrei Medina/VVP/ELR, GMA News
Tags: weather, storm, gorio
Most Popular