14/07/2014
GLENDA UPDATE | Typhoon Glenda intensifies; More areas under storm signal
By: Jaime Sinapit, InterAksyon.com
July 14, 2014 7:29 PM
Satellite fix of Typhoon Gloria via infra-red telemetry, published by the NOAA MTSAT unit, as of 6:32 p.m. Monday, July 14, 2014.
InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
(UPDATE - 7:50 p.m.) MANILA - Tropical Storm "Glenda" has intesified firther as more areas are placed under storm signals, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysocal and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said late Monday afternoon.
According to PAGASA forecaster Jori Loiz, Glenda is expected to make a landfall on Tuesday in Albay which was already under Storm Signal No. 2.
But Catanduanes is already udner Signal No. 3.
Typhoon Glenda is comparable to Typhoon Millenyo, forecasters say.
According to the 4 p.m. PAGASA update, Glenda "continues to move westward threatening Bicol reigon".
Other areas under Signal No. 2 are Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon. Under Signal No. 1 are Metro Manila, Masbate including Burias, Ticao Island, Marinduque ,Quezon including Polilio, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, and Southern Aurora.
It said that the eye of the storm was last spotted at 470 degrees East-Southeast of Virac, Catanduanes or 500 km East of Legazpi City, Albay (12.7N, 128.9°E), with maximum sustained winds of 110 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 140 kph. It is forecast to move West at 30 kph.
PAGASA said that, by Tueday Glenda will be in the vicinity of Ligao City, Albay and on Wednesday afternoon it is expected to be at 90 km West-Northwest of Iba, Zambales.
On Thursday, Glenda will be at 500 km West of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.
"Residents in low lying and mountainous areas under signal #3, #2 & #1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides, PAGASA said, "likewise, those living in coastal areas under signal #3 and #2 are alerted against storm surges."
Estimated rainfall amount is from 7.5 – 25 mm per hour (moderate - intense) within the 500 km diameter of the Tropical Storm.
Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the Eastern seaboards of Luzon and of Visayas.
From the Bicol Region, Melvin Machado, Radyo5's correspondent reported that, besides the municipal disaster risk reduction and management council of the towns in Camarines Sur, the 9th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based in Pili has also set in motion preparations for disaster response.
The unit has been prepositioned assets ready to deploy to any part of the Bicol region that may sustain significant damage from Tropical Storm Glenda, which has prompted Public Storm Warning Signal Number 2 over Camarines Sur and Norte, Catanduanes, Albay and Sorsogon.
This developed as the Coast Guard office in Bicol confirmed that a strict no-sailing rule has been put in place for vessels at all piers, and fishermen have been forbidden from venturing out to sea.
Per latest data, at least 841 passengers have so far been stranded in five piers in Bicol: Matnog, Tabaco, Bulan, Cataingan and Pilar.
At least 100 passengers were also stranded at Batangas port, along with 39 roliling cargoes.
Meanwhile, some residents have, on their own, started cutting branches of trees in their area that could be snapped by the strong winds and cause danger to people or damage property. (With additional reporting by Melvin Machado, Radyo5)
