Uwan heads for Taiwan; Signal No. 1 in 9 areas

Nine areas in Luzon are under Signal No. 1 as Severe Tropical Storm Uwan continues to weaken while approaching Taiwan, PAGASA said late Tuesday afternoon.

Based on the state weather bureau’s 5 p.m. cyclone bulletin, Signal No. 1 was hoisted in the following areas:

• Batanes
• the northern and western portions of Cagayan (Piat, Santo Niño, Camalaniugan, Tuao, Lal-Lo, Pamplona, Gonzaga, Alcala, Santa Teresita, Buguey, Rizal, Santa Ana, Claveria, Gattaran, Lasam, Aparri, Ballesteros, Abulug, Allacapan, Sanchez-Mira, Santa Praxedes), including the Babuyan Islands
• Apayao
• Abra
• the northern portion of Kalinga (Balbalan, Pinukpuk, Pasil)
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• the northern portion of La Union (Luna, Santol, City of San Fernando, San Juan, Bangar, San Gabriel, Bacnotan, Sudipen, Balaoan)
• the northwestern portion of Pangasinan (Bani, Bolinao, Agno)

At 4 p.m., Uwan was located 340 km west of Itbayat, Batanes, or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

It was carrying maximum sustained winds of 100 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 125 km/h and was moving north northeastward at 15 km/h.

“Minimal to minor impacts from strong winds are possible within any of the areas under Wind Signal No. 1,” state meteorologists said.

It also warned that on Wednesday, the storm will bring occasionally gusty conditions reaching strong to gale-force strength over the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Bicol Region, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Quezon, and Aurora, which are not under any wind signals.

A gale warning is also in effect over the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon and the western seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon.

Uwan is expected to follow a recurving path, turning generally northward on Tuesday.

The storm may re-enter PAR on Wednesday afternoon as it makes landfall over the southwestern coast of Taiwan. 

“It will then emerge over the waters near the Ryukyu Islands on Thursday, where it is expected to eventually weaken into a remnant low on Friday (November 14),” PAGASA said.

Uwan will continue to weaken because of "unfavorable environmental conditions," PAGASA said.

Impact

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Tuesday said the reported death toll from Uwan has increased to 18. 

The affected population reached 2.4 million individuals or 653,000 families from 6,900 barangays, OCD deputy administrator for administration Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said.

A total of 804,000 families took shelter in 11,000 evacuation centers to save themselves from the hazards brought by Uwan.

Floods were reported in 267 barangays and storm surge in 19 areas, according to the OCD official.

A total of 4,100 houses were damaged. The assessment on the cost of damage to infrastructure and agriculture is still ongoing, Alejandro said.

Only 97 of the 202 impassable road sections have been cleared.

Power supply has been restored in only 32 of the 394 affected areas. —VBL, GMA Integrated News