8 dead as ‘Gener’ moves north

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Typhoon Gener (international codename Saola), which already left 8 people dead since Saturday, is now moving towards the north but is still threatening extreme northern Luzon.

In the 5 pm weather bulletin released by state weather bureau Pagasa, Gener was last spotted 260 kilometers east northeast of Basco, Batanes (21.4°N, 124.5°E), with maximum sustained winds of 120 km per hour near the center and gusts of up to 150 km/h.

The typhoon is still moving at a speed of 7 km/h.

The typhoon is expected to bring heavy to torrential rainfall, estimated to be between 10 to 35 millimeters per hour, within the 700 km diameter of the cyclone.

Public storm warning signal number 3 is still in effect over Batanes. Signal number 2, meanwhile, is hoisted over Cagayan, including the Calayan and Babuyan group of islands.

Isabela, Kalinga, and Apayao, meanwhile, are still under public storm warning signal number 1 (winds between 45-60 km/h).

Strong to gale force winds are expected over the western seaboard of northern, central and southern Luzon, and the Visayas, the bureau added.

8 dead

The combined effects of the typhoon and the Southwest Monsoon, which was enhanced by Gener, has now left 8 people dead, the National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council (NDRRMC) said in its latest bulletin, released 1 pm Tuesday.

The fatalities are

• Ronald Necor, 33, of Bugasong, Antique – drowned Saturday, July 28
• Ernest Flores, 60, of Alaminos, Laguna – passenger aboard the M/V Shuttle RORO 1, which ran aground Looc, Romblon on Sunday
• Bernard Buzon, 35, of Tanay, Rizal – body found in Rosario, Cavite on Monday
• Teodoro Flores, 40, of San Pablo, Laguna – Hit by a falling coconut tree
• Merly Datinginoo, 45, of Tingloy, Batangas – Drowned
• Danieles Hipolito, 32-35, of Bacoor, Cavite – Electrocuted
• Reynante Lingasad Jr, 10, of Dipolog City – Drowned

The NDRRMC report did not name the eighth fatality.

Three people were also injured. Eight people, on the other hand, were rescued from the sea on Monday.

Damage

A total of 219,015 people, or 44,982 families, have been affected by both Gener and the Southwest Monsoon, spread out across 9 regions in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Out of these, 145,032 people, or 28,385 families, are being assisted by the NDRRMC both in and outside evacuation centers.

Seven roads and 24 bridges have also been closed in Cagayan, Isabela, Zambales, Batangas, Palawan, Aklan, Camiguin, Benguet, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Bataan, Apayao, and the cities of Malabon and Valenzuela.

A total of 1,163 houses have also been damaged. Of these, 336 houses are totally damaged.

As of 10 am Tuesday, the Ambuklao and Binga Dams have opened their gates to release water from their reservoirs, data from the Pagasa’s Hydrometeorology Division said.

Ambuklao opened 4 gates after the reservoir water level reached 751.47 m, 0.53 m below the 752.00 m normal high water level. On the other hand, Binga Dam opened 6 gates after its RWL reached 574.71 m, 0.29 m below its NHWL of 575.00 m.

Water levels at the reservoirs of Angat, San Roque, Pantabangan, and Magat Dams have risen since 6 am Monday, while those at Ipo, La Mesa, and Caliraya Dams have gone down since.

Warnings

It is expected to be 360 km northeast of Basco by Wednesday afternoon, and 500 km north of the said town by Thursday. It will be out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility by then.

Pagasa said the typhoon is still expected to enhance the Southwest Monsoon, bringing rain and moderate to strong winds over Luzon and Visayas, especially the western sections.

The bureau is still warning people living in low-lying and mountainous areas to be alert against flashfloods and landslides. Storm surges and big waves, meanwhile, are possible along the coasts.

Small seacraft are advised not to venture out to sea in Luzon and Visayas due to both the typhoon and the monsoon.

Another low pressure area is expected to develop to a tropical cyclone after Gener exits the PAR, the bureau said. It will be called “Helen” if it develops further into a storm.

The next bulletin on typhoon Gener will be released by the bureau at 11 pm. – Rappler.com