Tropical cyclone Danas, formerly named Bising, developed into a typhoon on Sunday and may re-enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) in the evening, according to PAGASA.
According to its 11 a.m. tropical cyclone advisory, the state weather bureau said Danas will continue to move northeastward over the next 36 hours.
“It may re-enter the northwestern boundary of PAR tonight or early tomorrow morning (7 July), and is expected to exit immediately thereafter,” PAGASA said.
Danas' center was estimated at 10 a.m. to be located at 385 kilometers west northwest of Itbayat, Batanes. The typhoon has maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 150 km/h, and heading north northeastward at 10 km/h. From its center, strong to typhoon-force winds are extending outwards up to 330 km.
“DANAS is forecast to steadily intensify over the next 24 hours,” the state weather bureau said.
“A weakening trend is expected over the East China Sea due to unfavorable conditions. It may weaken into a remnant low by Thursday (10 July) as it interacts with the landmass of China,” it added.
Gale warning
Meanwhile, a gale warning was hoisted on Sunday morning over the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon.
Up to very rough seas with waves reaching as much as 4.5 meters tall are expected in the seaboard of Batanes and the western seaboard of Babuyan Islands.
“Sea travel is risky for all types of tonnage of vessels. All mariners must remain in port or, if underway, seek shelter or safe harbor or soon as possible until winds and wave subside,” PAGASA said.
Up to rough seas with waves reaching 3.5 meters tall are expected in the western seaboard of Ilocos Norte.
“Mariners of small seacrafts, including all types of motorbancas, are advised not to venture out to sea under these conditions, especially if inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels,” the state weather bureau said.
Up to moderate seas with waves reaching 2.5 meters tall are expected in the northwestern seaboard of Ilocos Sur and the remaining seaboards of Ilocos Norte, and up to 2.0 meters in the western seaboards of La Union, Pangasinan, and Zambales, and the remaining seaboard of Ilocos Sur.
“Mariners of motorbancas and similarly-sized vessels are advised to take precautionary measures while venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigation under these conditions,” PAGASA said.
Families affected
At least 3,773 families have been affected so far by Bising (international name: Danas), the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) said Sunday.
In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, OCD officer-in-charge Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said the affected families are equivalent to 13,006 individuals from the Ilocos Region (Region I), Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and Cagayan Valley (Region II).
However, Alejandro noted that the number may increase since the latest data is an initial report from the OCD’s field offices.
He added that there have been no reported casualties so far.
Flooding has been reported in Regions I and II, and CAR, but it is currently subsiding.
There were also five reported impassable road sections, but Alejandro said clearing operations are ongoing.
He added that Bising also caused partial damage to houses.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development said Sunday that it has P3 billion in standby funds and a prepositioned relief stockpile ready for calamities nationwide this year. —KG, GMA Integrated News
(with reports from MARIEL CELINE SERQUIÑA, GMA Integrated News)
