By Adrian H. Halili, Reporter
TYPHOON RAGASA, locally named Nando, strengthened into a super typhoon on Sunday as it headed toward Northern Luzon, where tropical cyclone wind signals of up to Signal No. 5 could be raised, according to the state weather bureau.
“Nando is forecast to further intensify before it approaches Extreme Northern Luzon,” the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 11 a.m. advisory.
The typhoon may pass close to or make landfall over Batanes or the Babuyan Islands in Cagayan on Monday.
As of Sunday morning, Nando was spotted 535 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, moving west at 15 kilometers per hour (kph). It packed maximum sustained winds of 185 kph and gusts of up to 230 kph.
Signal No. 2 was raised over Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the northern and eastern portions of Isabela, Apayao, eastern Kalinga and northern Ilocos Norte.
Signal No. 1 covered the rest of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the remainder of Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, the rest of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, northern Zambales, as well as the northern and central portions of Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Aurora.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) directed local governments to carry out preemptive evacuations in danger zones.
“Local government units were instructed to implement preemptive or mandatory evacuation in barangays highly susceptible to storm surges, flooding and landslides, strictly enforce the no-sail policy and ensure evacuation centers are powered, stocked and safe,” the agency said in a statement.
Authorities were also told to provide food and humanitarian aid, enforce liquor bans in high-risk areas, clear waterways, monitor dams and quarry sites and secure critical infrastructure.
PAGASA likewise issued a storm surge warning over Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.
“There is a high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights exceeding three meters within the next 48 hours over low-lying or exposed coastal localities,” it said.
The bureau also warned small vessels and motorboats to take precautionary measures and avoid sailing under hazardous sea conditions.
