‘Gener’ leaves 10 dead, maintains strength as it moves northward

MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon ‘Gener’ (international codename Saola) is expected to continue moving northward, bringing rain and moderate to strong winds over Luzon and Visayas.

‘Gener’ will enhance the effects of the Southwest Monsoon, weather bureau Pagasa said in its 11:00 pm severe weather bulletin.

The typhoon continues to move at a speed of 7 kph northwards.

Pagasa warned communities living in low lying and mountainous areas to watch out for possible flashfloods and landslides.

Public storm warning signal number 3 is still raised over Batanes. Meanwhile, storm signal number 2 has been declared over Cagayan including the Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands.

Pagasa also alerted coastal areas under signal numbers 2 and 3 against big waves or storm surges caused by the tropical cyclone.

Fishing boats and other small seacraft are cautioned against heading out into the Luzon and Visayas seaboard because of the effects of ‘Gener’ and the Southwest Monsoon.

Isabela, Kalinga, and Apayao are all under signal number 1.

The typhoon recorded maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center, with gustiness of up to 150 kph.

‘Gener’ is seen to bring in heavy to torrential rainfall, at around 10-35 mm per hour, within the 700km diameter of the typhoon.

As of 10 pm on July 31, the typhoon was seen 250 km Northeast of Basco, Batanes and is expected to be 365 km Northeast of the same area by Wednesday (August 1) evening.

As earlier reported, ‘Gener’ is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Thursday evening.

According to a report from Agence France-Presse, Taiwan is already bracing for the typhoon as it moves closer to the southernmost tip of the island. 

Pagasa will next issue a bulletin at 5am Wednesday (August 1).

Deaths, property damage caused by ‘Gener’

In its 9pm bulletin, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported 10 casualties caused by the typhoon in regions 3, 4-A, 6, 9, and the Cordillera region.

NDRRMC last put the death toll of typhoon ‘Gener’ at 8 in its 1pm July 31 bulletin. 

Two people remain missing in region 1, while 5 are injured in Cordillera, and regions 4-B and 6. Eight people have been rescued so far.

‘Gener’ has also displaced 31,457 families or 156,681 persons currently being served inside and outside evacuation centers.

As of the NDRRMC’s latest bulletin, ‘Gener’ has cost the country P2,130,230 in damages. The council also reported a total of 1,172 damaged houses, of which 339 have been completely ruined. -Rappler.com