Stop spreading ‘typhoon’ rumors, says science chief

KD Suarez

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Stop the rumors and be sensitive about the plight of traumatized Yolanda survivors, Science Secretary Montejo appeals

SUBMERGED. Residents ride a wooden boat as they paddle past submerged houses due to flooding brought about by heavy rains in the outskirts of Butuan City, Agusan del Sur province, January 13, 2014. Erwin Mascarinas/AFP

MANILA, Philippines – Don’t believe the rumors of a supposedly strong typhoon coming to the country in days – and be sensitive about the plight of Yolanda survivors who are still traumatized by the disaster.

This was the appeal of Science and Technology Sec Mario Montejo on Tuesday, January 14, as false information about another “strong typhoon” began circulating in social media and text messages.

The “news” has reached residents of Tacloban City, one of the areas worst hit by the November 8 supertyphoon. It said the “typhoon” will hit the country, particularly those already devastated by Yolanda, this week.

“Taclobanons have barely started to recover from Yolanda. To make them panic on baseless information would be an extra burden to them. Let us at least be sensitive to their plight, if we cannot do anything to help,” a DOST media release said, quoting Montejo.

Instead of spreading rumors, Montejo appealed to the public to rely on official forecasts and data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the country’s official weather bureau.

He also highlighted the National Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH), which can provide up-to-the-minute data on weather conditions across the country.

“Why not make use of all these tools, instead of relying on rumors?,” he said.

The state weather bureau said in its latest forecast Tuesday that there are no tropical cyclones within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

He also said people should instead closely monitor the low pressure area currently affecting large parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.

The LPA has been bringing heavy rain mostly in the Davao Region, Caraga, Northern Mindanao and Eastern Visayas, causing widespread flooding and landslides.

It has so far taken the lives of 23 people, based on latest data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Tuesday.

The system is expected to continue bringing heavy rain to these areas until Friday, January 17.

“People should not believe rumors if they don’t want to run the risk of being hoaxed,” Montejo added. – Rappler.com

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