BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Typhoon Rolly continues to maintain its strength as it moves west-southwestward at 25 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 215 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 265 km/hour, state weather bureau PAGASA said.
Meanwhile, disaster risk management head Zephard Caelian told DNX that Negros Occidental continues to be under Blue Alert Status, with flood advisory.
The next six hours will be crucial, he said.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal no. 3 is foisted over areas in Luzon including Catanduanes, the eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Cabusao, Libmanan, Pasacao, Pamplona, Magarao, Bombon, Calabanga, Canaman, Camaligan, Gainza, Naga City, Milaor, San Fernando, Minalabac, Pili, Ocampo, Baao, Bula, Balatan, Nabua, Bato, Iriga City, Buhi, Sagnay, Tigaon, Goa, Tinambac, Siruma, Lagonoy, San Jose, Garchitorena, Presentacion, Caramoan), and Albay.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal no. 2 is over Bulacan, Rizal, Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Quezon including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, the rest of Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, and Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island;
areas under signal number 2 are Northern Samar, the northern portion of Samar (Hinabangan, Paranas, Motiong, Jiabong, Catbalogan City, San Jose de Buan, San Jorge, Tarangnan, Gandara, Santa Margarita, Matuguinao, Calbayog City, Tagapul-An, Almagro, Santo Nino, Pagsanghan), and the northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Julian, Sulat, Taft, Can-Avid, Dolores, Maslog, Oras, San Policarpo, Arteche, Jipapad).
TCWS no. 1 is declared over Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Pangasinan, La Union, the southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Quirino, Gregorio Del Pilar, Salcedo, San Emilio, Candon City, Galimuyod, Santa Lucia, Cervantes, Sigay, Santa Cruz, Suyo, Tagudin, Alilem, Sugpon), Mountain Province, Benguet, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and the central and southern portions of Isabela (Mallig, Quirino, Ilagan, Roxas, San Manuel, Burgos, Gamu, Palanan, San Mariano, Benito Soliven, Naguilian, Reina Mercedes, Luna, Aurora, Cabatuan, San Mateo, Cauayan City, Dinapigue, San Guillermo, Echague, San Agustin, Jones, Angadanan, Alicia, San Isidro, Ramon, Santiago City, Cordon), and Calamian Islands.
In the Visayas, typhoon signal number 1 has been declared in the rest of Eastern Samar, the northern portion of Leyte (Leyte, Tabango, San Isidro, Calubian, Capoocan, Carigara, Tunga, Barugo, San Miguel, Babatngon, Tacloban City),Biliran, the northwestern portion of Aklan (Numancia, Lezo, Makato, Tangalan, Ibajay, Nabas, Malay, Buruanga, Kalibo), and the northwestern portion of Antique (Libertad, Pandan).
The center of the eye of the typhoon is forecast to pass over Catanduanes – mainland Camarines Provinces area tomorrow morning, and over mainland Quezon tomorrow afternoon. Violent winds and intense rainfall associated with the inner rainband-eyewall region will be experienced over Catanduanes, Camarines Provinces tomorrow early morning through afternoon and over Quezon tomorrow afternoon through evening. After crossing the Southern Luzon – Metro Manila area, the center of Rolly is forecast to exit the mainland Luzon landmass on Monday early morning.
Rolly is likely to remain a typhoon category (185-205 km/h) by the time it makes landfall. While traversing over Luzon, Rolly is forecast to weaken considerably and emerge as a severe tropical storm or minimal typhoon over the West Philippine Sea.
WHAT HAPPENS UNDER SIGNAL NUMBER 3
Areas under storm signal number 3 have winds of greater than 121 km/h up to 170 km/h may be expected in at least 18 hours.
There is also heavy damage to high–risk structures, moderate damage to medium-risk structures, light damage to low risk structures, as well as increasing damage (up to more than 50 percent) to old, dilapidated residential structures and houses of light materials. Majority of all nipa and cogon houses may be unroofed or destroyed.
Houses of medium strength materials (old, timber or mixed timber-CHB structures, usually with G.I. roofing’s), and some warehouses or bodega-type structures might also be unroofed.
There may be widespread disruption of electrical power and communication services.
As for crops and vegetation, almost all banana plants are downed with some big trees (acacia, mango, etc.) broken or uprooted, and dwarf-type or hybrid coconut trees are tilted or downed.
Rice and corn crops may suffer heavy losses. Damage to shrubbery and trees with foliage blown off; some large trees blown down.
The disturbance is dangerous to the communities threatened/affected. The sea and coastal waters will be very dangerous to all seacrafts. Travel is very risky especially by sea and air.
People are advised to seek shelter in strong buildings, evacuate low-lying areas and to stay away from the coasts and river banks.
People are also asked to watch out for the passage of the “eye” of the typhoon indicated by a sudden occurrence of fair weather immediately after very bad weather with very strong winds coming generally from the north.
When the “eye” of the typhoon hit the community do not venture away from the safe shelter because after one to two hours the worst weather will resume with the very strong winds coming from the south. Disaster preparedness and response agencies/organizations are in action with appropriate response to actual emergency.
If the house is not strong enough to withstand the battering of strong winds, people are advised to go to designated evacuation center or seek shelter in stronger houses, to stay in safe houses until after the disturbances has left the area, to evacuate from low-lying area and riverbanks and stay away from coastal areas for possible flooding and storm surge.
All travel and outdoor activities should be cancelled.
WHAT HAPPENS UNDER SIGNAL NUMBER 2
For areas under tropical cyclone number 2, winds of greater than 61 km/h and up to 120 km/h may be expected in at least 24 hours.
Under this signal, there could be light to moderate damage to high risk structures, very light to light damage to medium-risk structures, no damage to very light damage to low risk structures.
Unshielded, old dilapidated schoolhouses, makeshift shanties, and other structures of light materials are partially damaged or unroofed while a number of nipa and cogon houses may be partially or totally unroofed.
Some old galvanized iron (G.I.) roofs may be peeled or blown off, while some wooden, old electric posts are tilted or downed. There could also be some damage to poorly constructed signs/billboards.
In general, the winds may bring light to moderate damage to the exposed communities. Most banana plants, a few mango trees, ipil-ipil and similar types of trees are downed or broken. Some coconut trees may be tilted with few others broken.
Rice and corn may be adversely affected and considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with some heavy-foliaged trees blown down.
The sea and coastal waters are dangerous to small seacrafts. Special attention should be given to the latest position, the direction and speed of movement and the intensity of the storm as it may intensify and move towards the locality.
The general public especially people travelling by sea and air are cautioned to avoid unnecessary risks.
Outdoor activities of children should be postponed while properties are secured before the signal is upgraded. Disaster preparedness agencies / organizations are in action to alert their communities.
People should prepare flashlights, batteries , matches, kerosene lamps, or candles and charcoal in anticipation of power failure, first aid kit and store ready to eat foods, keep their cell phones fully charged, elevate household things in case of flooding, and for fishing folks, secure fishing boats in safe area.
WHAT HAPPENS UNDER SIGNAL NUMBER 1
Under signal number 1 winds of 30-60 km/h may be expected in at least 36 hours or intermittent rains may be expected within 36 hours. (When the tropical cyclone develops very close to the locality a shorter lead time of the occurrence of the winds will be specified in the warning bulletin.)
There is very light or no damage to low risk structures. There is light damage to medium to high risk structures, and slight damage to some houses of very light materials or makeshift structures in exposed communities. Some banana plants are tilted, a few downed and leaves are generally damaged, twigs of small trees may be broken. Rice crops, however, may suffer significant damage when it is in its flowering stage.
When the tropical cyclone is strong or is intensifying and is moving closer, this signal may be upgraded to the next higher level. The waves on coastal waters may gradually develop and become bigger and higher.
The people are advised to listen to the latest severe weather bulletin issued by PAGASA every six hours. In the meantime, business may be carried out as usual except when flood occur.
Disaster preparedness is activated to alert status.
People should inspect their house if necessary repair/fixing is needed, clean up drainage system, Harvest crops that can be yielded, and monitor the latest Severe Weather Bulletin issued By PAGASA every six hours and hourly updates.
