Alert heightened as PABLO makes landfall

Typhoon "Pablo" (international codename "Bopha") has hit land early Tuesday, driving thousands of Filipino families out of their homes amid fears of floods or landslides. 

Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) made landfall over Baganga town in Davao Oriental before 5 a.m. Tuesday, even as 24 areas were placed under Storm Signal No. 3.

"Typhoon Pablo has made landfall over Baganga, Davao Oriental," the state weather bureau Pagasa said in in 5 a.m. update Tuesday.

It had maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 210 kph, it added.

Related story: Typhoon smashes into Philippines

Public storm warning signal number 3 has been hoisted over the following areas, where the weather bureau warned of 101-185 kph winds in at least 18 hours:

-Southern Leyte 

-Bohol 

-Negros Oriental 

-Siquijor 

-Southern Cebu 

-Surigao del Norte 

-Siargao Island 

-Surigao del Sur 

-Dinagat Province 

-Agusan del Norte 

-Agusan del Sur 

-Misamis Oriental 

-Camiguin 

-Bukidnon 

-Davao Oriental 

-Compostela Valley 

-North Cotabato 

-Lanao del Sur 

-Lanao del Norte 

-Misamis Occidental 

-Zamboanga del Norte 

-Zamboanga del Sur 

-Davao del Norte 

-Samal Island

The following areas, meanwhile, have been placed under signal number 2 (61-100 kph winds):

-Rest of Cebu -Camotes Island -Iloilo -Guimaras -Capiz -Leyte -Biliran -Negros Occidental -Davao del Sur -Sultan Kudarat -Zamboanga Sibugay -Maguindanao

Signal number 1 (30-60 kph winds) is meanwhile up in:

-Palawan 

-Calamian Group of Islands 

-Ticao Island -Masbate 

-Northern Samar 

-Eastern Samar -Western Samar 

-Aklan 

-Antique 

-Basilan 

-Sarangani 

-South Cotabato

"Residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signals are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides," Pagasa said.

Those living in coastal areas under public storm warning signal numbers 3 and 2 have also been alerted against big waves or storm surges, particularly in Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat, Bohol and Leyte provinces where waves may reach three to six meters in height.

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Source: http://ph.news.yahoo.com

Thousands evacuated due to Typhoon ‘Pablo’—NDRRMC

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MANILA, Philippines – Tens of thousands were forcibly evacuated in several areas as Typhoon “Pablo” (international name Bopha) headed towards land, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Tuesday.

Photo Credit from Mr. Florencio Pimentel, PDRRM Officer of Surigao del Sur

A total of 8,283 families or 41,608 persons were evacuated in Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao and Caraga region.

There are 972 evacuation centers as of posting time.

The storm, seen to be the most powerful this year, has also left over 3,000 passengers marooned in ports, the NDRRMC said.

As of Monday, there were 3,406 passengers, 133 rolling cargoes, 87 vessels and 46 motor bancas stranded in ports nationwide.

Over 80 domestic flights were also grounded due to the storm.

It also prompted authorities to suspend classes in all levels in Mandaue City, Cebu City, Dumaguete City, Caraga region, and selected areas in Davao region.

The following areas were also declared high-risk for storm surge, flooding and landslides: 

• Libacao, Kalibo, Numancia, Aklan province 

• Hamtic and San Remegio, Antique province 

• Maasin, Alimodian, Miga-ao, Tubungan, Leon, Calinog, Mina, Iloilo province 

• Sigma, Mambusao, Cuartero, Dao, Capiz province 

• San Carlos City, Negros Occidental province

The government, meanwhile, has prepositioned P3.70 million standby funds and P38.64million worth of relief supplies.

Police, coast guard and military teams were also placed on standby for possible deployment.

Pablo made landfall over Davao Oriental early Tuesday. 

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net