MORE than 10,000 evacuees sheltered in schools and evacuation centers Monday as heavy rains and gale-force winds from Super Typhoon Nando (international name Ragasa) lashed the country’s far north.
The typhoon, which gained strength as it proceeded on a collision course with southern China, was expected to make landfall over the Philippines’ Babuyan Islands around midday Monday.
The sparsely populated islands lie about 740 kilometers (460 miles) south of Taiwan, where smaller-scale evacuations were also underway.
As of 11 a.m. (0300 GMT), maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour were reported at the storm’s center, with gusts reaching up to 265 kph as it moved westward towards the Babuyans, the national weather service said.
“I woke up because of the strong wind. It was hitting the windows, and it sounded like a machine that was switched on,” said Tirso Tugagao, a resident of Aparri, a coastal town in northern Cagayan prov-ince.
“I’m seeing from my house here that the high waves are crashing onto the shore,” the 45-year-old teacher said. “I pray everyone will be safe.”
Cagayan disaster chief Rueli Rapsing said his team was prepared for “the worst.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Facebook he was closely monitoring the situation and that all government agencies were “on alert to give help anywhere and whenever needed.”
Schools and government offices were closed Monday in Metro Manila and across 29 Philippine prov-inces in anticipation of heavy rainfall.
Government weather specialist John Grender Almario said Sunday that “severe flooding and land-slides” could be expected in the northern areas of the main island Luzon.
The threat of flooding from Nando comes just a day after thousands of Filipinos took to the streets to protest a growing corruption scandal involving flood control projects that were shabbily constructed or never completed.
Super Typhoon Nando made landfall over Panuitan Island in Calayan, Cagayan Monday afternoon.
Nathaniel Servando, chief of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Ad-ministration (Pagasa) warned against storm surges exceeding 3.0 meters within the next 24 hours in the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur.
The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) said on Monday that it is ready to respond to possible electrici-ty service problems that may arise due to the rains and winds brought about by Super Typhoon Nan-do.
With tropical cyclone warning signals put up in some parts of its franchise area and the expected im-pact of intensified southwest monsoon rains, Meralco said it continues to actively monitor the weath-er situation to ensure timely action.
“Our crews and personnel are strategically deployed and on standby 24/7. We urge everyone to priori-tize safety and remain vigilant, especially in flood-prone areas,” Meralco Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe Zaldarriaga said.
Flood precaution
With the storm system’s development, Meralco reminded flooded and affected customers to turn off the main power switch or circuit breaker, and ensure hands and feet are dry before touching any elec-trical equipment.
Meralco also said that customers must unplug all appliances, turn off permanently connected devices, and remove light bulbs if possible.
Once floodwaters have gone down, Meralco said that affected customers should clean mud and de-bris from electrical equipment using rubber gloves and rubber-soled shoes, and ensure all electrical wires, outlets, and devices are completely dry before use.
Lastly, the distribution utility said that only a licensed electrician should inspect appliances and wiring systems before turning them back on, and that customers must never use flood-damaged electrical equipment.
To report power outages and other concerns, Meralco said customers may reach the company through its official social media pages on Facebook (www.facebook.com/meralco) and X (@meralco). They may also text their concerns to 0920-9716211 and 0917-5516211 or contact the Meralco Hotline at 16211.
