Bicol evacuation centers open ahead of typhoon’s landfall 

Evacuation centers in the provinces of Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, and Camarines Norte in the Bicol region have been opened to people fleeing their homes in preparation for the onslaught of Typhoon Nina (Nock-Ten), which is forecast to make landfall in Catanduanes early Sunday evening.

GMA News quoted Rumina Marasigan, spokesperson for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), as saying that preventive evacuation operations have been ongoing a day before Typhoon Nina's forecast landfall in Catanduanes.

International weather agencies indicated that Nina will possibly make landfall between 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Marasigan also said that as of Saturday morning, Nina packed a maximum sustained winds of 150 kph and gustiness of up to 180 kph as it moved west-northwest at 15 kph.

Local governments in threatened areas have already laid down measures to mitigate the possible impact of the approaching typhoon.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development has already prepositioned relief supplies at evacuation centers and provided assistance to passengers stranded at Bicol ports. 

On the other hand, the NDRRMC said that northern Luzon is experiencing rain showers brought about by the Northwest Monsoon (Amihan).

For its part, the Department of the Interior and Local Government has advised owners of huge billboards, especially in Metro Manila, to roll down the tarps as strong winds will be felt starting Sunday. —LBG, GMA News