AFP raises red alert ahead of ‘difficult’ Typhoon Maysak

MANILA, Philippines –  Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Gregorio Catapang Jr has raised the red alert status among the 4 military commands in Luzon and other supporting units ahead of strong and “difficult” Typhoon Maysak. (READ: PH braces for Typhoon Maysak)

“The Disaster Response Operations (DRO) teams under the aforementioned major units are placed on standby to support the local government and the office of the Civil Defense for possible humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) missions in calamity-affected areas,” the military announced at 1pm on Wednesday, April 1.

The red alert status covers the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) spanning the area that the typhoon is forecast to hit, and other commands that can provide support – Southern Luzon Command (Solcom), Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (JTCF-NCR), and Central Command (Centcom) in the Visayas.

It means all the troops must be inside the camps and ready for any deployment. All vacation leaves are suspended.

The rest of the commands in Mindanao are on blue alert status.

After the briefing of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Wednesday, Catapang said what makes this particular typhoon “difficult” is its timing, as it is expected to enter the country as people troop to the provinces for Holy Week.

“This is quite a difficult typhoon. It is not only the typhoon we’re thinking about. It’s the Holy Week and so many people are now going to various places. The problem is how to protect the people – especially tourists – who might be caught in harms’ way,” the AFP chief said.

He added: “Especially foreign tourists, they don’t know the evacuation centers. Where will they go if the typhoon hits their area. These things have to be settled in the municipal and provincial level.”

The NDRRMC has urged  foreign and local tourists to coordinate with local governments regarding the typhoon. (READ: Holy Week travelers told: Adjust to Typhoon Maysak)

State weather bureau PAGASA said Typhoon Maysak, to be renamed Chedeng once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), is 5 kilometers per hour short of being a super typhoon.

It can weaken as it approaches the country but will remain to be a strong typhoon considering its strength and diameter of up to 700 kilometers. – Carmela Fonbuena/Rappler.com