MILDER ‘ZORAIDA’ HITS SURIGAO TODAY

After Typhoon ‘Yolanda’

MILDER ‘ZORAIDA’ HITS SURIGAO TODAY

By Jeannette I. Andrade, Chris V. Panganiban

Inquirer Mindanao, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Signal No. 1 was hoisted on Monday over 21 areas, including provinces in the Visayas devastated by Supertyphoon “Yolanda,” as Tropical Depression “Zoraida” was expected to make landfall on Tuesday in Surigao del Sur.

Unlike Yolanda, Zoraida will be a much milder cyclone that may weaken on landfall but still bring moderate to heavy rains over areas where Signal No. 1 was raised, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Pagasa forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said that among areas under Signal No. 1 were Siquijor, southern Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, southern Antique, Iloilo and Guimaras in the Visayas; and Dinagat province, Siargao Island, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Samal Island, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental and Camiguin Island in Mindanao.

Aurelio said that in areas where Signal No. 1 was in effect, winds of 30 to 60 kilometers per hour were to be expected.

“Not much on the wind, more on rain,” Aurelio said when asked about the effect of the cyclone over areas on its path.

The amount of rainfall within the 300-km diameter tropical depression is moderate to heavy (5 to 15 millimeter per hour).

Moderate to heavy rains are expected over areas previously affected by Yolanda, particularly Bohol, Cebu, northern Palawan and the Negros provinces.

As of 4 p.m. Monday, Zoraida was 634 km southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and moving west-northwest at 30 kph.

After it makes landfall before noon Tuesday in Surigao del Sur, Zoraida is forecast to make landfall in the southern parts of the Negros provinces and Panay Island as well as in northern Palawan before it exits through the West Philippine Sea, according to Aurelio.

Pagasa expects Zoraida to leave the Philippine area of responsibility by Thursday afternoon.

He said it was possible for Zoraida to intensify while approaching the land mass and eventually weaken like Tropical Depression “Wilma,” which became a low pressure area several hours after landfall.

Aurelio cautioned against sea travel, which he described as risky, in the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon. Fishing boats and other small seacraft were advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves that could reach up to 4.5 meters.

He said Zoraida would enhance amihan (northeast monsoon) prevailing over northern and Central Luzon.

Disaster response

Drawing lessons from Yolanda, officials in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur provinces activated their disaster response teams as early as Monday morning.

Some 600 members of the Search and Rescue in Agusan del Sur (Saras) throughout the province, equipped with lifeboats and emergency gadgets, were on standby at their respective command centers in 14 towns.

On local radio stations, Agusan del Sur Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza told residents to be prepared for any eventualities.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council advised operation centers in all towns and cities to be on heightened alert.

“We are on full alert and we are even waiting further advisory from Pagasa and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council,” Efren Rivas, provincial administrator in Surigao del Sur, said.

The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council in the coastal town of Hinatuan asked residents to prepare “family emergency packs,” including rice, water and ready-to-eat food before they go to evacuation centers, said officer Josephine Lapeciros.

The local disaster council in Hinatuan canceled all fishing activities in the municipal shorelines on Monday afternoon.