‘Gener’ near Taiwan, leaves 12 dead

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Typhoon Gener (international codename Saola) is still on course towards the vicinity of east Taiwan and Japan’s Ryukyu Islands after lashing large parts of the country, leaving 12 dead, but storm warning signals are still up in 3 provinces in Luzon.

The typhoon was last located 285 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes (22.8°N, 123.7°E) Tuesday, August 1, with maximum sustained winds of 120 km per hour near the center, and gusts of up to 150 km/h, state weather bureau Pagasa said in its 11 am bulletin.

Taiwan is now bracing for the typhoon, issuing warnings for its residents to seek shelter.

Public storm warning signal #2 is still up over Batanes, and the Calayan & Babuyan group of islands of Cagayan. Meanwhile, the rest of Cagayan and Apayao are under storm warning signal #1.

Storm warning signals elsewhere have been lowered, Pagasa said.

The typhoon is still moving to the north northwest at a speed of 7 km/h, and is expected to be 400 km north northeast of Basco, Batanes on Thursday morning, August 2.

It will be out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Friday morning.

Rainfall brought by Gener is still heavy to torrential (10-35 millimeters per hour) within the 700 km diameter of the weather system.

The Southwest Monsoon will still be enhanced by Gener, bringing rain & moderate to strong winds over Luzon & Visayas, especially the western parts.

Residents in low-lying or mountainous areas are still in danger from landslides and flashfloods, the bureau said. People living near the coasts in areas affected by the typhoon are warned against storm surges and big waves.

Seas will still be rough in areas affected by the typhoon and monsoon, and small seacraft are advised not to go out to sea.

Meanwhile, a Low Pressure Area has been spotted 360 km west northwest of Basco (21.0°N, 118.1°E).

The next severe weather bulletin will be released at 5 pm Wednesday, the bureau said.

12 dead

The typhoon has left 12 people dead, 1 person missing, 5 injured, and 129 others rescued, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said in its 5 am report on Tuesday.

A total of 303,941 people, or 63,670 families, living in 11 regionshave been affected, with 149,776 people, or 31,135 families, given assistance.

A total of 1,514 people have been stranded in ports after 51 different vessels were prevented from leaving due to the weather.

Classes are still suspended in the following areas:

• Obando, Bulacan (all levels)
• Hagonoy west district (preschool to elementary, morning classes)
• Mercado, VC Raymundo, and Sta Elena (preschool to elementary)
• In Valenzuela City: Rincon, Pasolo, Isla, Tagalag, Coloong, A Deato, Wawang Pulo, and Pio Valenzuela Elementary Schools, and San Diego Parochial School & Nuestra Señora Academy Elementary School (preschool to elementary)

Classes from preschool to high school (public, private) have also been suspended by the local government units in the following areas:

• Quezon City
• Pasay City
• Marikina CIty
• Navotas City
• Mandaluyong City
• San Juan City
• Malabon’s Dampalit Elementary School (Main & 1)
• Imus, Cavite
• Ternate, Cavite
• Rosario, Cavite
• Tanza, Cavite
• Naic, Cavite

Meanwhile, classes in all levels in Benguet and in Rodriguez, Rizal have also been suspended.

Several areas in the National Capital Region and a number of towns in Regions I, II, III, and XII are still flooded.

Damage brought by the typhoon to agriculture is now pegged at P2.13 million across 3 regions in Luzon & Visayas. – Rappler.com