MANILA Super typhoon ‘Haiyan’ will hit the Philippines and threatened to inflict more damages to the provinces still reeling from the devastation caused by the magnitude 7.2 earthquake in October, weathermen and officials warned on Wednesday.
Experts also warned that Haiyan could equal or could even be stronger than another super typhoon ‘Bopha’ (local codename Pablo) that hit Mindanao in December 2012, killing more than 1,000 people and injuring more than 2,000 others.
Mahar Lagmay, head of Project Noah (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) told ABS-CBN News: “This incoming typhoon would be much like Pablo (Bopha). When Pablo made landfall, it brought massive rain and strong winds. People should be careful.”
The same warning was aired by Secretary Sonny Coloma of the Malacanang Palace press office and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) as they urged officials and residents to take all necessary precautions with the approach of Haiyan.
Particularly they alerted residents on the island provinces of Bohol and Cebu in the Visayas in Central Philippines who are yet to recover from the magnitude 7.2 quake which rocked the nation in mid-October.
The warning was also directed at residents living in areas prone to floods, landslides and other natural disasters, officials said.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) urged the faithful in this predominantly Catholic nation to recite the ‘Oratio Imperata,’ a prayer aimed at stopping an impending disaster or calamity.
Connie Dadivas, weather forecaster of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), reported that at 11am on Tuesday, Haiyan was spotted 1,411 kilometres east of Mindanao packing maximum center winds of 150 kilometres per hour and busts of up to 185 kph.
But the US Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) warned that while still at sea, Haiyan could develop into a super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 251kph.
Dadivas said Haiyan is projected to enter the Philippines on Thursday afternoon and would be given the local codename of Yolanda.
On Friday, Haiyan is expected to make landfall on the provinces of Samar and Leyte in the Visayas and could affect large areas of the Philippines including Metro Manila over an area of 600 kilometres, said Dadivas.
The NDRRMC reported that on Wednesday the provinces of Bohol and Cebu in the Visayas as well as Albay in the Bicol Region already ordered the suspension of classes in all public and private schools as part of the precautionary measures with the projected arrival of Haiyan.
Albay Governor Joey Salceda announced they also started the pre-emptive evacuation of thousands of residents along coastal as well as in low-lying areas to help ensure their safety.
During a press briefing at the NDRRMC headquarters in Metro Manila, Secretary Mar Roxas of the Department of Interior and Local Government and Secretary Dinky Soliman of the Department of Social Welfare and Development assured concerned government agencies and local officials have alerted rescue teams as well as prepared relief items to assist the typhoon victims.
“We have issued advisories to all our local councils that we aim for zero casualty and pre-emptive evacuation must be done if necessary,” the NDRRMC pointed out.
Haiyan is the second tropical cyclone to enter the Philippines in November and the 24th for the year.
Credit to Oman Tribune
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