#AmangPH: Heavy rains in E. Samar, just after Yolanda, Ruby

MANILA, Philippines – Within minutes after Pope Francis left Tacloban, the wind and rain at the airport tarmac intensified as Tropical Storm Amang (international name Mekkhala) continued on its northwesternly path toward a region still reeling from the impact of two powerful typhoons.  

Fortunately, Pope Francis’ plane managed to escape the bad weather. But another private plane carrying government officials was not so lucky and had to abort a takeoff attempt. 

Bracing for Amang

In the municipality of Maydolong, Eastern Samar, residents there were reportedly asked to evacuate to higher ground as heavy rains pounded the area. There are no specific figures as of this posting on the number of evacuees in the province. 

A video report from Nick Brown of the Young Pioneer Disaster Response organization posted on YouTube shows Maydolong practically empty as strong winds and rain blanketed the area. 

Brown told Rappler that power is out in the provincial capital of Borongan, but cellphone signals and the Internet are working as of this posting. 

Brown is part of a 30-person team of disaster responders who are in Basey to help residents there rebuild their lives after Typhoon Ruby caused heavy damage in December 2014. 

As of this posting, the national government has not provided any situation report on the tropical storm and the steps taken by local governments to prepare for its landfall. 

Although state weather bureay PAGASA has categorized Amang as a tropical storm, the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center and Weather Philippines upgraded its strength to a typhoon in the morning of January 17. A typhoon has wind speeds of 120 kph. 

Amang is the first tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines in 2015. The storm left an estimated 11,000 people stranded at seaports. – with a report from Nick Brown, YPDR/Rappler.com

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