Bicol braces for possible landfall of Typhoon Tisoy

Residents and authorities in Bicol have started preparing for the possible landfall of Typhoon Tisoy over the region between Monday and Tuesday.

The towns of Lagonoy, Garchitorena and Caramoan in Camarines Sur are among the first towns that will be hit by Tisoy, according to a report by Emil Sumagil on GMA News TV’s Balitanghali on Sunday.

The red alert was raised over Camarines Sur. Authorities conducted a forced evacuation in critical areas, moving residents to evacuation centers.

Possible flash floods, landslides, and storm surge were also being monitored.

In Naga City, the local government also began preparations for the typhoon. Of the 27 barangays, 10 are under close monitoring due to their susceptibility to floods.

A no-sail policy was also enforced in the city.

Other towns that will be closely monitored are Milaor, Iriga, Nabua and Pili.

Meanwhile, at least 275 passengers were stranded in ports in Northern Quezon, Antique, and Northern Sama, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Sunday.

In an 8 a.m. advisory, the NDRRMC said at least 30 rolling cargoes, seven vessels, and nine motor bancas were also stuck in ports.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) already instructed all its regional offices to take proactive measures in light of the typhoon.

Branches of trees that may damage some facilities were trimmed and cut by the DILG.

At least 296,585 stockpiles of family food packs and 6,000 bags of rice were already in place.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) provided a list of landslide-prone areas.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 was in effect over Catanduanes, Northern Samar and Eastern Samar on Sunday.

TCWS No. 1 meanwhile was raised over the following areas:

• Quezon including Polillo Islands
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Masbate including Burias and Ticao Island
• Marinduque
• Romblon
• Aklan
• Capiz
• northern Iloilo (Ajuy, Anilao, Balasan, Banate, Barotac Viejo, Batad, Bingawan, Calinog, Carles, Concepcion, Dingle, Duenas, Estancia, Lambunao, Lemery, Passi City, San Dionisio, San Enrique, San Rafael, Sara)
• northern Antique (Culasi, Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Tibiao)
• northern Negros Occidental (Cadiz City, Calatrava, Enrique B. Magalona, Escalante City, Manapla, Sagay City, Silay City, Toboso, Victorias City)
• northern Cebu (Asturias, Bantayan, Bogo City, Borbon, Carmen, Catmon, Daanbantayan, Danao City, Madridejos, Medellin, Pilar, Poro, San Francisco, San Remigio, Santa Fe, Sogod, Tabogon, Tabuelan, Tuburan, Tudela)
• Samar
• Biliran
• Camotes Island
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Dinagat Islands

On Monday, Tisoy will bring occasional to frequent heavy rains over Bicol region, Samar Provinces, and Biliran, while moderate to occasional heavy rains over Marindue, Romblon, and Quezon.

Frequent to continuous heavy rains are expected on Tuesday over Metro Manila, Bicol region, CALABARZON, Mindoro provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga and Bulacan. 

Moderate to occasional heavy rains are expected over the rest of Luzon. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News