US braces for record lows in big freeze

NEW YORK -- Authorities urged Americans to stay indoors and stock up on food after a fierce winter storm killed 11 people and forecasters said the Arctic blast could bring record low temperatures.

There was no sign of respite Saturday from the brutal chill that has struck since the start of 2014 in parts of the northeastern United States and Canada, prompting New York and New Jersey to declare a state of emergency.

Following heavy snowfall Thursday, one of the coldest Arctic outbreaks in the past two decades is set to plunge America's Midwest close to record cold conditions.

Chicago could on Monday see some of its most bracing weather ever, with temperatures hovering around minus 23 Celsius, weather analysts said.

Gusty winds could bring what forecasters at the National Weather Service called "very dangerous levels" of wind chill.

"Incredibly, it may feel as cold as -50 to -60 (Fahrenheit) on Sunday night over sections of the north-central states with the frigid air remaining in place into early next week," it said.

In such conditions, exposed skin would suffer frostbite in as little as five minutes, forecasters cautioned.

Authorities have urged people in the worst-hit areas to spend the first weekend of the new year at home for their own safety and to allow rescue and clean-up teams to get to work as quickly as possible.

"Chicagoans are a hearty bunch," said Matt Smith, spokesman for the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services.

"But when temperatures get as cold as they are predicted, you want to start thinking out things in advance," the Chicago Tribune quoted him as saying, adding that the department had advised people stay indoors and ensure they have medical supplies and food.

In Minnesota, Governor Mark Dayton has already announced schools will be closed Monday "to protect all our children from the dangerously cold temperatures."

The storm has been the first big test for New York City's new Mayor Bill de Blasio, who only took up his job Wednesday.

"If you want safe, clear streets, stay home," he said Friday.

In an unrelated incident, New Yorkers' attention was at least temporarily distracted from the weather when a private plane was forced to land on a highway in the city's Bronx borough due to engine trouble, injuring the pilot and two passengers.

Thousands of domestic and international flights have been canceled or delayed in several US cities including at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport and in Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia, while thousands of miles of roads were also snarled.

Added to the mix was a flood alert for much of the Atlantic coastline of Massachusetts.

Coldest NFL game ever?

On Friday, a worker was killed when he was crushed by a 30-meter pile of salt being prepared to treat roads in the Philadelphia area, media reports said.

A 71-year-old woman suffering from Alzheimer's disease froze to death after walking out into the cold and getting lost in northern New York state, according to authorities.

At least nine other deaths were blamed on the storm, nicknamed Hercules.

Eastern Canada has also been badly hit, and residents in many parts of Newfoundland lost power, local media reported.

Temperatures there had plunged to five degrees Fahrenheit, but the wind chill made it feel as cold as minus 31.

The bracing weather was also set to impact Sunday's crucial National Football League playoff between the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers.

Some media outlets speculated that the eagerly anticipated clash at the open-air Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, might be the coldest NFL game in history as freezing temperatures and blustery winds threatened a windchill factor as low as minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Packers say they will help fans battle the big freeze at the open-air stadium by handing out free coffee and hot chocolate.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Britain evacuates thousands after storm surge

LONDON - British authorities evacuated thousands of people from coastal towns in Britain after a huge storm lashing northern Europe unleashed the worst tidal surge in 60 years, officials said Friday.

The worst of the flood waters were receding, but with another two high tides expected in eastern England later Friday, the Thames Barrier in London was set to be closed for the second time in two days to protect the capital.

Two people were killed in Britain on Thursday when Atlantic storm Xaver hit with winds of up to 142 miles per hour (228 kilometers per hour), before heading out into the North Sea towards Germany and the Netherlands.

One of the victims, a lorry driver, died when his vehicle toppled onto a number of cars in Scotland, while a man riding a mobility scooter was struck by a falling tree in Nottinghamshire, central England.

Officials said at least 10,000 homes had been evacuated: 9,000 in the eastern county of Norfolk and 1,000 in the southeastern county of Essex.

Britain's Meteorological Office confirmed it was the worst tidal surge since catastrophic floods hit North Sea countries in 1953, killing more than 2,000 people.

But defenses along Britain's east coast have been strengthened since then and while some were breached by the latest surge, most of them held.

"The defenses seemed to have held up well and seemed to have performed well," Environment Agency spokesman Tim Connell told the BBC.

The pier in the Norfolk seaside town of Cromer was damaged by the high seas.

Police in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, meanwhile urged "sightseers" to stay away, saying they were placing themselves at "significant risk".

Police in the northeastern county of Northumbria said the floods appeared to be easing Friday, saying that "early indications are that the tidal surges in our area this morning are less than what we saw yesterday."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Orange rainfall alert raised over Metro Manila, provinces

State weather bureau PAGASA on Tuesday morning extended an orange rainfall alert in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

This, amid rains spawned by the southwest monsoon (habagat) that has been made more intense by Tropical Storm Maring.

PAGASA, in an advisory issued 5 a.m., said heavy to intense rains were observed over most parts of Metro Manila and portions of Cavite and Rizal early Tuesday morning.

Moderate to heavy rains were also seen over parts of Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Quezon, Occidental Mindoro, Pampanga, Zambales, Bataan, Batangas, Laguna and Tarlac for the past 2 hours.

It added that the bad weather is expected to continue over the next 3 hours, with heavy to intense rains over Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Zambales, Cavite, Bataan, Pampanga, and Occidental Mindoro.

It also predicted moderate to heavy rains over portions of Batangas, Laguna, and Quezon.

"Flooding is threatening," the weather bureau warned.

At least three people have died after torrential rain engulfed parts of the main island of Luzon, including Metro Manila, where neck-deep water swept through homes forcing thousands into emergency shelters.

Schools, government offices and the stock exchange were closed as a red rainfall alert was raised in the morning -- the highest level of a warning system in which widespread floods are predicted.

Classes remain suspended Tuesday in many areas in the metropolis and nearby provinces.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Storm Quinta slams into Eastern Samar, Leyte

Tropical Storm Quinta slammed into Homonhon Island in Eastern Samar at between 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

The storm is causing heavy to intense rains over Samar, Leyte, Cebu and Northern Bohol.

It may cause floods and landslides in Samar, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The storm, with international name Wukong, is bringing estimated rainfall of 10 to 20 mm per hour (heavy to intense) within its 350-kilometer diameter.

"These could bring floods and landslides, particularly in landslide-prone areas like southern Leyte and Samar," PAGASA's Nathaniel Servando said.

Servando said storm surges of up to 4 meters (13 feet) were also expected along coastal areas in the region.

Public storm warning signal number 2 is raised over Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Western Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran and Northern Cebu including Camotes Island in the Visayas, as well as Dinagat Island in Mindanao.

The areas are expected to experience winds of 61 to 100 kilometers per hour in the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, storm signal number 1 is hoisted over Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Albay, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Island, and Romblon in Luzon; Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Provinces, Bohol, Siquijorm and rest of Cebu in the Visayas; and Siargao, Surigao Del Norte, and Camiguin in Mindanao.

Quinta made second landfall over Abuyog in Leyte province just past midnight, according to PAGASA.

The storm is packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph. It is moving west at 24 kph.

Quinta  is expected to be at 30 km south of Coron, Palawan by Wednesday night.

The storm will be around 560 km west northwest of Coron, Palawan or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Thursday night, PAGASA said.

"Residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signal #2 and #1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas under public storm warning signal #2 are alerted against big waves or storm surges generated by this tropical cyclone," the weather bureau warned.

It also advised owners of fishing boats and other small seacraft not to venture out into the seaboards of Luzon and over the eastern seaboard of Visayas and Mindanao.  - with reports from ANC; Agence France-Presse

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Signal no. 3 up in 7 areas due to 'Pablo'

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has placed seven provinces in Mindanao under storm warning signal number 3 as typhoon "Pablo" moves to make a landfall.

In its 11 a.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA said storm warning signal number 3 has been hoisted in Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Siargao Island, Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Davao Oriental.

Areas under signal number 3 should expect winds of 101-185 kilometers per hour (kph) in at least 18 hours.

The following areas, meanwhile, have been placed under signal numbers 1 and 2:

Signal no. 2 (61-100 kph winds expected in at least 24 hours)

• Southern Leyte
• Bohol
• Camiguin
• Misamis Oriental
• Bukidnon
• Davao del Norte
• Compostela Valley

Signal no. 1 (45-60 kph winds expected in at least 36 hours)

• Eastern Samar
• Western Samar
• Leyte
• Biliran
• Aklan
• Capiz
• Antique
• Iloilo
• Guimaras
• Negros Occidental
• Negros Oriental
• Cebu
• Siquijor
• Zamboanga Provinces
• Lanao Provinces
• Davao del Sur
• North Cotabato
• Maguindanao

PAGASA said as of 12 p.m., the eye of the typhoon was located 490 km Southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.

Pablo was still packing maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 210 kph. It also maintained its speed and direction, moving west northwest at 24 kph.

Pablo is expected to be at 30 kms east of Hinatuan on Tuesday. Pre-emptive evacuation is now being carried out in areas, particularly in Hinatuan's islands, where the typhoon is expected to unleash its force.

PAGASA forecaster Jori Loiz said after making a landfall in Surigao area, Pablo will cross the provinces of Agusan, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin and Bohol on Tuesday.

The typhoon will continue moving over Cebu, Negros and Panay provinces on Wednesday.

"Inaasahan na hihina si Pablo habang dumaraan siya sa Visayas area," he said.

Loiz noted that even if Pablo has yet to make a landfall, its outer cloud bands will already bring rains over eastern Visayas and eastern Mindanao on Monday afternoon.

Estimated rainfall is from 15 to 30 mm per hour (heavy - intense) within the typhoon's 600-km diameter.

Residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signals are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Likewise, those living in coastal areas under public storm warning signal nos. 3 and 2 are alerted against big waves. Fishing boats and other small sea crafts are advised not to venture out into the eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao.

The Department of Education, meanwhile, is reminding everyone of the automatic suspension of classes when storm warning signals are raised.

Classes in preschool are automatically suspended when storm warning signal no. 1 is raised.

Classes from preschool to high school, meanwhile, are called off automatically when signal no. 2 is raised.

When signal no. 3 is hoisted, classes in all levels and work of DepEd employees are automatically suspended.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Filipinos in US hunker down for superstorm

Storm preparations of some Americans may seem a bit exaggerated to some Filipinos who have lived in the Philippines, a country hit by about 20 storms annually.

“Ang biruan ng mga Pinoy dito napaka-OA ng mga Amerikano. Lagi namin joke yun kasi we overprepare in a good way,” said Alladin Bacolodan, a former ABS-CBN reporter who is now a Maryland resident.

Bacolodan said Filipinos are used to typhoons. “You’ve seen the worst when you have lived in the Philippines,” he said.

However, he also admitted that megastorm Sandy is different.

“The truth is - this is really a reason to prepare because this is really unusual,” he said.

The National Hurricane Center downgraded Sandy to a post-tropical cyclone as it crashed into the US coast near Atlantic City, New Jersey. The megastorm has so far claimed the lives of 13 people in US and Canada.

Strong winds and heavy rains continue to pound most of the East Coat resulting to heavy flooding in a lot of cities and towns in at least 11 states and the District of Columbia.

Power outage is the biggest concern now with more than two million people without electricity.

The national and local government implemented stringent measures, including mandatory evacuations, imposing curfew and travel ban, to encourage people in the path of the storm to remain indoors for their own safety.

“Right now, there is a ban for you to go outside. You’re not even allowed to drive a car. You can be arrested for doing that,” Bacolodan said.

“Like today in Maryland, they’ve announced you cannot go out unless you’re a medical officer, a part of the rescue team, or working in a hospital or some medical facility.”

That, he said, gives them no other choice but to remain indoors.

“That differentiates us from there. Kasi dyan, may katigasan tayo ng ulo. Dito, kailangan talagang sumunod dahil mahuhuli ka,” he said.

60 million affected

The storm, he added, is really huge affecting about 60 million people or about 20 percent of the US population.

Of the 60 million, 460,000 are Filipinos living in at least 13 states in the east coast.

He said the highest concentration of Filipinos in the east coast is in New Jersey with 110,000; New York, 104,000; 66,000 in Virginia and about 44,000 in Maryland.

“The Philippine Embassy in D.C. and the Consulate in New York are closed today. But Ambassador Jose Cuisia issued an advisory to brace for the worst and keep an eye for each other in case someone needs help,” Bacolodan reported.

A duty officer is likewise on standby in both the embassy and the consulate to receive calls from Filipinos needing immediate help.

Filipino community leaders have been notified to keep in touch with members for any development or emergencies.

Like most residents, Filipinos there have done their part in preparing for the worst by stocking on supplies like food, water, and emergency kits.

Well prepared

In New York, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau correspondent Don Tagala said most Filipinos he knows have prepared well before the storm.

“A lot of people I know went out Sunday before the hurricane came in. They went to Filipino stores to buy canned goods, emergency supplies,” Tagala said.

In Manhattan, freelance correspondent Cat Sandoval is among the many Filipinos bracing for superstorm Sandy.

Sandoval reported to ANC that many parts of the city are already flooded, without power. She added that most residents are well prepared because of early warnings from authorities.

“I think what's really good, the mayor did a really good job of warning people, the government did as well, so people are pretty safe,” Sandoval said.

Another New York resident Bernadette Corpuz-Perez is waiting it out in her apartment.

“We’re doing ok. We were warned by Mayor Bloomberg so we stocked up on food and water. Everything is fine on our side,” she said.

Perez said Manhattan is one of the areas without power.

“Our service elevator is not working so it’s really 19 flights of stairs going down. We’ve been here since Sunday. We were warned to stay home because it’s safer. We were able to go outside this morning just to get supplies but since then we’ve been stuck here in the apartment,” she said.

It was a good thing, she said, that they were informed early on to prepare as water was also turned off.

“We're hoping it will be over soon. We don’t have TV that can guide us on what's happening outside, but so far for Manhattan, I think the worse is over,” she said.

Perez has been in New York for more than 10 years and had seen the worst kind of tragedy in the 9/11 attacks.

“Were not used to this kind of calamity in New York, but were very prepared,” said Perez.

“What's great about New York is that were always getting feedback from our politicians. So we’re warned. I’ve been here long enough to know that people are actually out there--we have policemen and firefighters ready to help,” she said.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Floods submerge some villages in Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines – Heavy rains since Friday night inundated many barangays in the cities of Quezon, San Juan and Manila .

The Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety monitored 9 flooded barangays waist-deep to about 6-feet deep.

Some residents were evacuated to safety. Twenty-eight families were evacuated to the Diosdado Macapagal Elementary School in Tatalon, while 32 families were brought to the Doña Imelda Barangay Hall, and 10 to the Trinity Elementary School in Barangay Damayan Lagi.

Eighteen people from barangay Roxas and barangay Mariblo were also rescued.

In barangay Del Monte, five families were evacuated, 15 in barangay Damayan, while four people were brought to a church in barangay Sto. Domingo and 33 families temporarily sheltered at the barangay Masambong covered courts.

In San Juan, 102 families are now temporarily houses at the San Juan Gym due to rising floodwaters in their area.

In the latest update from the San JUan City Risk Reduction and Management Office, Barangay Balong-Bato registered 6-deep floodwaters which forced residents to evacuate their homes as early as 3 a.m. Saturday.

Likewise, residents in the villages of Salapan, Batis, Kabayanan, San Perfecto, Rivera and Progreso also experienced three-and-a-half feet to six-feet deep floodwaters early dawn Saturday.

Meanwhile, several portions of Manila also experienced heavy flooding, stranding many people, mostly students, along Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard in Sta. Mesa, Manila .

Areas around the Manila City Hall are still flooded, as of posting. -- Reports from Dexter Ganibe, Dennis Datu, and Johnson Manabat, dzMM

source: abs-cbnnews.com

170 families evacuated from Baguio, La Trinidad amid rain from 'Helen'

More than 170 families have been evacuated from Baguio City and La Trinidad town in Benguet amid heavy rain from Tropical Sstorm Helen (Kai-Tak), the Office of Civil Defense said Wednesday.

OCD Cordillera OIC head Andrew Alex Uy also cited initial reports indicating the rain from Helen also forced the closure of some road networks in Benguet.

"Kung lumaki ang volume ng evacuees, baka kailangan natin ng tulong sa labas," Uy said in an interview on dzBB radio.

A separate report by the Philippine Information Agency said many families at Sitio Little Kibungan in Puguis, La Trinidad, Benguet have evacuated to Puguis Elementary School due to the heavy rain.

Helen made landfall at 1 a.m. in Cagayan province, and enhanced the southwest monsoon that brought rain on Luzon. It is expected to exit Philippine territory on Thursday.

In contrast, the OCD in Cagayan Valley, the region where Helen made landfall, said there was "minimal damage" to the region so far.

Preemptive evacuation

Uy cited initial reports indicating more than five hours of heavy rain over the region, including Kalinga and Apayao. He said there were reports of landslides.

However, he said preemptive evacuation had been condudcted in Baguio City, and areas in Kalinga and Apayao.

"May affected na road network ng Benguet, may reported closed roads, pero ang iba nabuksan agad, one lane passable," he added.

Agriculture

He said there may be damage to agriculture, but they cannot make any assessment until after the storm passes.

When asked if there was any increase in prices of vegetables, he said there is no such report so far.

Meanwhile, in Cagayan Valley, OCD regional director Norma Talosig said the rain had stopped in Tuguegarao City in Cagayan province.

She said there was no report of floods affecting houses, at least as of Wednesday noon.

"Generally hindi ganoon ka-devastating si 'Helen' (Generally 'Helen' has not been devastating)," she said in a separate interview on dzBB. — RSJ, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

168 schools sheltering over 14,000 families in NCR, Central Luzon, CALABARZON

One hundred sixty-eight schools in three regions are currently giving temporary shelter to 14,489 families as heavy rains drenching parts of Luzon left many communities flooded and people homeless.

The Department of Education (DepEd) in a press release said that as of Wednesday morning, 115 schools in the National Capital Region (NCR) are housing 9,741 families.

In Central Luzon (Region III), 36 schools are giving shelter to 2,568 families.

In CALABARZON (Region IV-A), 17 schools have taken in 2,180 families.

“We need to make sure that we have enough supplies to provide for the needs of evacuees under our care," DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro said in an emergency meeting.

The Department is currently finalizing plans to ensure that classes in the schools used as evacuation centers will not be disrupted.

Information on make-up classes will also be released on Thursday, said DepEd.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) on Tuesday said more than 800,000 Filipinos have been displaced or otherwise affected by the flooding caused by the southwest monsoon and tropical storm Haikui.

Luistro also instructed Schools Division Superintendents of DepEd-NCR to coordinate with local government units (LGUs) and the City Social Welfare and Development Offices in their respective areas.

"Let us work hand in hand with our city and barangay officials to ensure that urgent needs are provided given the current situation," he said. - BM, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Buy groceries good for 3 days, says head of industry group

MANILA, Philippines - Buy enough groceries to last for three days. Consumers were given this piece of advice by Steven T. Cua, who heads an industry group representing 156 supermarkets across the country.

Cua offered this suggestion after incessant rain submerged most of the Philippine capital, prompting consumers to rush to the nearest supermarkets to ensure that their supplies remain sufficient in case of extended inclement weather.

The ones most quickly snapped up were sardines, bread, noodles, bottled water and batteries.

Shoppers “are buying more than what they need right now,” Cua told InterAksyon.com in a phone interview on Tuesday.

They should just buy enough supplies so as to prevent aggravating slight imbalances in the supply chain, added Cua, the president of the Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association Inc. (Pagasa).

On Tuesday, when above-average rainfall traced to the southwest monsoon or “habagat” poured on Metro Manila and nearby areas, a higher-than-usual demand was reported for bread.

Since most of Metro Manila’s roads were flooded, suppliers were unable to deliver the commodity. “This is a problem of delivery, not supply,” Cua said.

Some supermarkets accepted daily deliveries while others had them delivered once every two days. “And if you were among the supermarkets who belonged to the latter, you may have run out of bread to sell,” Cua said.

At the same time, he assured the public that should a shortage of bread arise, demand can be easily be filled up by supplies from the provinces in the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon).

Cua also clarified that if shelves do run out of stock of items, it would simple be a matter of their crew being unable to fill them up fast enough.

Pagasa members have noted increased demand for sardines, noodles, bottled water, and batteries, he added.

All its 156 members—80 of which are located in Metro Manila—have sufficient inventory for one to two weekds, he explained.

He also recognized that demand for relief goods—especially from government, donor agencies, and non-government organizations—have not helped alleviate their members’ “supply issues” at all.

“Shoppers should be as basic as possible,” he said.

source: interaksyon.com

Swollen river floods 19 barangays in Pangasinan as San Roque Dam dumps more water

The swollen Sinocalan River whose fountain head is at Mt. Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet flooded the low-lying barangays. Evacuation of residents, was not however, necessary.

Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) spokesperson Avenix Arenas said rains stopped in Dagupan and the rise of tidal water from adjacent rivers close to the Lingayen Gulf is minimal.

The PDRRMC headed by Gov. Amado Espino Jr, meanwhile is drawing precautionary measures to avert damages as heavy rainfall is expected in Pangasinan and La Union on Wednesday.

San Roque Dam overflows

On the otherhand, Tom Valdez, vice president of the San Roque Power Corporation, reported that company officials had increased the opening of two gates of San Roque Dam at 9:30 a.m. from 1.5 meter to 2 meters due to the reduced outflow of water from hyndro-electric plant's turbines.

San Roque Dam exceeded its normal level of 280 meters above sea level (masl) and rose to 283.35 masl.

The dam collects the water from the Binga Dam in Itogon, Benguet. The Ambuklao Dam in Bokod, Benguet that already opened their spillway gates by 2.5 meters and 1.5 meters, respectively.

Arenas said that per their monitoring no other places in Pangasinan, even those along the banks of the Agno River are being threatened by flood.

There are no classes at all levels in Pangasinan.

source: interaksyon.com

Non-stop rain raises specter of Ondoy, riverside residents ordered to leave

Overnight rain flooded streets across the metropolis, crippling traffic and making many residents recall "Ondoy," whose epic rainfall in 2009 caused rampaging floodwaters, and left death and devastation. PAGASA foisted its red warning Monday night, indicating torrential rain and mandatory evacuation in flood-prone areas.

Police fanned out in riverside communities in Marikina and San Mateo compelling residents to flee. Evacuation centers were already filling up on Monday with people who had been victims of Ondoy, fearful that similar conditions were occurring.

Total rainfall since Monday, however, is still significantly less than the rain that fell during Ondoy's onslaught, according to PAGASA data.

In parts of Quezon City, Manila and Valenzuela, flood waters were wait-deep and impassable to vehicles. MMDA has been posting flood updates on its Twitter account.


Streams of comments flooded Twitter as the night dragged on and as disaster response agencies posted updates on the floods and heavy rain.

source: gmanetwork.com

MMDA lists flooded areas

The MMDA has compiled a list of areas considered flooded on their Twitter account @MMDA

• Flood Alert: RMB Pureza as of 6:07 am Not Passable to All Types of Vehicles. #mmda
• Flood Alert: Burgos Finance, Manila in-front of Manila City Hall, as of 6:10 am Not Passable to All Types of vehicles.
• Flood Alert: Q.Ave Scout Schuatoco, as of 6:11 am Not Passable to All Types of Vehicles.
• Flood Alert: Q.Ave Araneta, as of 6:11 am Not Passable to all types of vehicles.
• Flood Alert: Q.Ave Delta, as of 6:11 am, not passable to all types of vehicles.
• Flood Alert: BBB McArthur, as of 6:17, not passable to all types of vehicles.
• Flood Alert: San Marcelino Taft Ayala, Manila, as of 6:37 am Not Passable to All Types of Vehicles.
• Flood Alert: Q.Ave Centris EDSA NB, Not Passable To All Types of Vehicles.
• Flood Alert: Q.Ave Brgay. Tatalon Kaliraya, as of 6:37 sm not passable to all types of vehicles.
• Flood Alert: C5 Libis bypass Rd going to RiverBank, as of 6:47 am Not Passable to All Types of Vehicles
• Flood Alert: Eagle St. GSIS Village Q.C, as of 6:53 am waist deep.#mmda
• Flood Alert: EDSA Aurora and P.Tuazon Tunnels both direction, as of 6:56 am half tire.
• Flood Alert: NLEX Balintawak, as of 7:00 am, not passable to all types of vehicles.
• Flood Alert: Teneros Malabon, as of 7:00 am, neck deep.
• Flood Alert: Quirino Sauyo, as of 7:04 am, not passable to types of vehicles.
• Flood Alert: Q.Ave Maria Clara, as of 7:14 am, lagpas tao.
• Flood Alert: Mandaluyong Maysilo, as of 7:18 am Knee deep.
• Flood Alert: SM Sucat, Parañaque, as of 7:20 am waist deep.#mmda
• Flood Alert: South Super Highway Buendia dela Rosa, as of 7:20 am, Not passable to Light vehicles
• Flood Alert: Victory St. G.Araneta, as of 7:23 am Chest deep.
• Flood Alert: C4 Lascano, as of 7:30 am 37 waist deep.
• Flood Alert: Ortigas, POEA SB, as of 7:31 am half gutter.
• Flood Alert: Capitol Balara EB, a sof 7:32 am gutter deep.
• Flood Alert: Masaya St. Commo Philcoa a sof 7:36 am, lagpas tao.#mmda
• Flood Alert: E.Rod Waltermart, as of 7:36 am not passable to all types all vehicles. (lagpas tao).
• Flood Alert: C5 NB Ateneo as of 7:37 am, knee deep.
• Flood Alert: EDSA Taft Metropoint, as of 7:41 am gutter deep.#mmda
• Flood Alert: Mindanao AVe, and North Ave, as of 7:44 am, gutter deep. #mmda
• Flood Report: Q.Ave Sto. Domingo as of 7:47 am knee deep. #mmda
• Flood Alert: Biak na Bato as of 7:50, not passable to Light vehicles.#mmda
• Flood Alert: SB and NB of NLEX Balintawak, 8:00 am, not passable to all types of vehicles.

8:40am update

• EDSA Taft Metropoint - gutter deep,as of 7:41am.
• Roxas NB infront San Juan de dios - knee deep,as of 8:08am.
• Quezon blvd. Carlos Palanca/Mendiola - Not passable to all types of vehicles,as of 8:20am.
• Roxas blvd. infront US Embassy - gutter deep,as of 8:21am.

9:11am update

• Congressional Road San Mateo Bataan - Not passable to all types of vehicles,as of 7:59am.
• Quezon ave Roosevelt - Lagpas tao,as of 8:04am.
• East ave City Hall - knee deep, as of 8:00am.

• From the NLEX/SCTEX Facebook: As of 9am, the following entry/exit points remain closed to traffic- Southbound: Bocaue Exit, Marilao, Meycauayan, Valenzuela; Northbound: Balintawak, Mindanao Avenue, Valenzuela, Meycauayan.

Updated 10:03am

• San Juan/F.Manalo - waist deep as of 9:20am.
• Ramon Magsaysay blvd. - waist deep not passable to all types of vehicles,as of 9:34am.
• Verm before Caltex - neck deep not passable to all types of vehicles,as of 9:34am.
• Old Sta.Mesa/V.Mapa intersection - waist deep not passable to all types of vehicles,as of 9:41am.
• Rizal ave./R.Papa - 57inches.
• Liano road Caloocan - chest deep as of 9:42am.
• Flood Alert: EDSA Taft Rotonda - gutter deep as of 10:00am
• Flood Alert: Roxas NB infront San Juan de dios - knee deep not passable to all types of vehicles,as of 8:08am.
• Flood Alert: EDSA Taft Metropoint - gutter deep passable to all types of vehicles,as of 7:41am.
• Flood Alert: Quezon blvd. Carlos Palanca/Mendiola - Not passable to all types of vehicles,as of 8:20am.
• Flood Alert: Verm before Caltex - neck deep not passable to all types of vehicles,as of 9:34am.
• EMERGENCY UPDATE: As of 9:59 AM, along Chino Roces from Gil Puyat to A. Arnaiz not passable - via @makatitraffic
  

Updated 10:16am

• Flood Alert: Old Sta.Mesa/V.Mapa intersection - waist deep not passable to all types of vehicles,as of 9:41am.
• Flood Alert: Rizal ave./R.Papa - 57inches not passable to all types of vehicles,as of 9:34am.
• Flood Alert: Liano road Caloocan - chest deep not passable to all types of vehicles, as of 9:42am.
• Flood Alert: San Juan/F.Manalo - waist deep not passable to all types of vehicles, as of 9:20am.
• EMERGENCY UPDATE: As of 10:13 AM, Mayapis St. (3 - 4 feet), not passable. - via @makatitraffic
• In NLEX flood at the Valenzuela portion is chest deep. - via @nlextraffic

Updated 10:24am

• EMERGENCY UPDATE: As of 10:17 AM, along Chino Roces Ext., passable. - via @makatitraffic
• Flood Alert: Commonwealth Capitol Zuzuaregi - waist deep not passable to all types of vehicles as of 9:49am. #mmda

Updated 10:49am

• EMERGENCY UPDATE: As of 10:35 AM, along SSH from Gil Puyat to EDSA, passable. - via @makatitraffic
• EMERGENCY UPDATE: As of 10:49 AM, along Curie St. from Bautista to Filmore, not passable. - via @makatitraffic

Updated 11:54am

• Reina Reigente/Abad Santos/Recto - tire deep not passable all types of vehicles as of 10:30am.
• E.Rod delos santos - lagpas tao not passable to all types of vehicles as of 10:50 AM
• Kalentong - waist deep not passable to all types of vehicles as of 10:31am.
• Tulyahan McArthur - knee deep not passable to all types of vehicles as of 10:36am.
• PIO Valenzuela - jeep deep not passable to all types of vehicles as of 10:36am
• EMERGENCY UPDATE: As of 10:56 AM, along Gil Puyat from Mayapis to Ayala Ave., passable. #MakatiTraffic - via @makatitraffic
• EMERGENCY UPDATE: As of 11:08 AM, Yague St. and Pasong Tirad (18 inches), not passable. - via @makatitraffic
• FLOOD ALERT: E.Muñoz-Pami - waist deep not passable to all types of vehicles as of 11:17am #mmda
• As of 11:40 AM, Balintawak, Valenzuela are not passable to any type of vehicle. Meycauayan is passable to class 2 and 3 vehicles only - via @nlextraffic
• As of 11:52 AM, along Gil Puyat from Marconi to Chino Roces, not passable. - via @makatitraffic
• Ramax Subdivision, near FEU-Fern College in Brgy. Pasong Tamo, Quezon City - waist-deep

source: gmanetwork.com

PAGASA: Flash floods, landslides from monsoon continue to threaten Luzon, west Visayas

After days of heavy rain, flash floods and landslides from the southwest monsoon remain a threat to Luzon and Western Visayas, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Tuesday.

PAGASA forecaster Samuel Duran said the monsoon remains strong even as there is no weather disturbance or potential cyclone near Philippine territory at this time.

"Southwest monsoon pa rin ang nakakaapekto sa buong Luzon at Western Visayas," he said in an interview on dzBB radio.

He added there is no low-pressure area near Philippine territory at this time. "Solely habagat ang nagpapaulan sa atin," he said.

PAGASA's 5 a.m. bulletin said Luzon and Western Visayas will experience monsoon rains which may trigger flash floods and landslides especially over the western sections.

The rest of Visayas will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms while Mindanao will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds from the southwest will prevail throughout the archipelago, making coastal waters moderate to rough, it added.

Meanwhile, PAGASA reminded fishermen strong to gale-force winds associated with the southwest monsoon may affect the seaboards of Luzon.

"Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it said. –KG, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

'Gener' deaths reach 23; rains, winds to still lash PH as storm hits Taiwan

The death toll from typhoon "Gener" (international codename: Saola) climbed to 23 Thursday even as the storm made landfall in northeast Taiwan although it has yet to leave the Philippine area of responsibility.

Gener will continue enhancing the southwest monsoon that will bring rains and strong winds over Luzon and Western Visayas, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

Classes in some areas in and around Metro Manila also remained suspended Thursday because of floods caused by days of nonstop rains.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said more bodies have been recovered in Luzon, raising the total deaths on the island to 13.

But rains and floods brought by the enhanced southwest monsoon also left people dead in the Visayas and Mindanao, including Misamis Oriental where Augusto Campo was crushed by a fallen coconut tree, and Maguindanao where a mother and her child drowned trying to ford a river.

The NDRRMC also reported 21 persons injured, many of them by fallen trees.

The typhoon also affected almost 70,000 families, or roughly 331,000 persons, 12,000 of whom remain in evacuation centers. Almost 3,000 homes were also destroyed or damaged.

In Metro Manila, flooding displaced over 400 families in Malabon, Marikina, Manila, Makati, Navotas, Paranaque, Quezon City, and Valenzuela City.
Gener, which was packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour near the center with gusts of up to 160 kph, is forecast to exit the PAR on Friday morning.

Public storm warning signal No. 1 remains hoisted over Batanes.

PAGASA has maintained its gale warning over the Luzon and Visayas seaboards, and continued to caution residents of low-lying areas against possible flashfloods and landslides.

The class suspensions are in:

Malabon: Longos, Taniong, San Agustin, Tonsuyo, Dampalit and Panghulo
Bulacan: Paombong (Masukol, Sta Cruz and Binakod), San Ildefonso (all schools, all levels), Hagonoy East (Hagonoy East CS, San Sebastian and Teodora Cruz), Obando (all schools, all levels), Hagonoy West (all pre-elem and elementary schools) and Saluysoy
Navotas City
Valenzuela City: Rincon ES,Pasolo, Isla, Tagalag, Coloong, A. Deato, Wawang Pulo, Pio Valenzuela, PR San Diego, San Diego Parochial School, Nuestra Senora de Guia, Acad ES
Cavite: Bacoor and Imus (pre-school to elementary)

In Taiwan, torrential rains and strong winds triggered landslides and flooding, forcing financial markets shut and disrupting transport, authorities said.

At least one person was killed in a landslide and eight injured in the storm.

While some major companies remained open, Taiwanese authorities ordered other businesses and schools to close. Financial markets were also shut, with normal operations expected to resume on Friday.

Most domestic flights were cancelled, along with some international services. Train services were also stopped as the typhoon made its way up Taiwan's less populated and mountainous east coast.

Taiwan's National Fire Agency said one person had been killed in a landslide in the central region of Chiayi. Eight people were injured, most in falls from motorcycles.

The agency also said a policeman had died of a heart attack. (with a report from Reuters)

source: interaksyon.com

PAGASA: 'Gener' to stay in PHL until Friday, to continue enhancing monsoon with nearby LPA

Typhoon Gener (Saola) is likely to stay in Philippine territory until Friday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Wednesday.

In a radio interview, PAGASA forecaster Gladys Saludes said Gener and a low-pressure area off Batanes will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon that may bring heavy rain.

As of early Wednesday, data from the National Disaster Risk and Reduction Council said the death toll from Gener stood at 12 while one was reported missing.

"Inaasahan natin by Friday pa ang labas niya. Halos bumagal siya [nitong] nakaraang [mga] oras," Saludes told radio dzBB.

On the other hand, PAGASA estimated the low-pressure area at 360 km west northwest of Basco, Batanes. If it becomes a cyclone, it will be codenamed "Helen."

This will mean "occasional to frequent rain" especially west of Luzon and Visayas, she added.

PAGASA said Gener may generate heavy to torrential rainfall (10 to 35 mm per hour) within its 700-km diameter.

PAGASA's 11 a.m. advisory said Gener maintained its course toward Taiwan.

As of 10 a.m., it was estimated at 285 km northeast of Basco, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

It was moving north northwest at 7 kph and is expected to be 400 km north northeast of Basco, Batanes by Thursday morning. By Friday morning, it is expected to be 580 km north northwest of Basco, Batanes or 120 km northwest of Taipei, Taiwan.

Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan remain under Storm Signal No. 2 while the rest of Cagayan and Apayao are still under Storm Signal No. 1.

PAGASA said Gener will still enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains and moderate to strong winds over Luzon and Western Visayas.

It advised residents in low-lying and mountainous areas to be alert against possible flash floods and landslides. Meanwhile, those in coastal areas under storm signal 2 were advised to be alert against big waves or storm surges.

"Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the seaboard of Luzon and Visayas due to the combined effect of 'Gener' and the southwest monsoon," it added. — RSJ, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

'Gener' to bring more rain for 5 days: PAGASA

MANILA, Philippines – More rains and strong winds are expected to hit Luzon and Visayas although typhoon “Gener” is moving further away from the country, the state weather bureau said on Tuesday.

In its 5 p.m. press conference, PAGASA’s senior weather forecaster Jori Loiz said inclement weather is expected in Mindoro, Batangas, Cavite, Bataan, Zambales, Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos, Cordillera and the National Capital Region in the next five days due to the typhoon’s effect on the southwest monsoon.

A monsoon surge or sudden increase in wind speed is also expected in the coming days.

The typhoon, which continues to move northward at a speed of 7 kilometers per hour (kph), will bring stormy weather over extreme Northern Luzon.

Batanes under Signal No. 3

Public storm warning signal number 3 remains hoisted over Batanes Group of Islands, while Signal No. 2 is up over Cagayan, Calayan Group of Islands and Babuyan Group of Islands.

The provinces of Isabela, Kalinga and Apayao remain under Signal No. 1.

Loiz said “Gener” is expected to weaken within 24 hours and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) either by late Wednesday or early Thursday.

As of 4 p.m., Gener was spotted 260 kilometers (km) east northeast of Basco, Batanes and is packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

Heavy rainfall of 10 to 35 millimeters is expected within the typhoon’s 700 km diameter.

Sea travel is risky in the seaboard of Luzon and Visayas due to the combined effects of Gener and the southwest monsoon.

Loiz also said PAGASA is monitoring another weather disturbance east of the country, just outside the PAR.

Once it enters PAR, the weather system will be named “Helen.”

source: abs-cbnnews.com

5,000 cut off in landslide as Japan faces more floods

Troops Sunday airlifted supplies to thousands of people cut off by landslides and torrential downpours that have killed at least 24 in southwest Japan as meteorologists warned of further heavy rain.

Television footage showed soldiers loading food, water and medical supplies onto military helicopters to send them to mountainous areas in Yame, Fukuoka prefecture on Kyushu island.

Local authorities were separately dispatching rescue helicopters to take patients and elderly villagers to hospital from the isolated area, where at least one person was killed, officials said.

More than 5,440 people have been cut off since late Saturday as landslides and fallen trees have blocked roads and water supplies in the region which has been hit by unprecedented rainfall since Wednesday.

"We will continue sending emergency rations to people there as it is still unknown when we can secure access to the area," said Kayo Shinohara, a spokeswoman for Yame City government.

"We are trying to do our best to remove rubble as soon as possible," the spokeswoman told AFP by phone.

Rescue operations resumed early Sunday in other affected areas of Kyushu, where at least eight people were still missing after a total of 24 people were confirmed dead in landslides or floods, officials said.

Public broadcaster NHK showed rescuers using heavy machinery to remove uprooted trees, boulders and debris, while residents scooped mud out of their houses with shovels.

Some 3,600 people remained ordered or advised to leave their homes as at least 2,800 houses were flooded, NHK said, after local authorities lifted similar advice to some 400,000 others by Sunday morning.

The weather eased somewhat Sunday bringing temporary relief, but the Japan Meteorological Agency warned of more heavy rain, landslides and floods on the main southern island of Kyushu.

"A peak of heavy rain in northern Kyushu has passed, but there is fear that driving rain with thunder may hit northern Kyushu as warm and humid air is flowing to the rain front," the agency said.

"Please be vigilant of damage from landslides and floods as part of the ground has already softened and water is still overflowing from rivers because of record rainfalls," it said.

Rainfall of up to 81.7 centimetres (32.2 inches) has been recorded in hardest-hit Aso, situated at the foot of a volcano, where at least 18 people were killed and four others were still missing.

Television footage showed torrents of muddy, debris-strewn water and flooded houses following what officials described as "unprecedented" downpours from a seasonal rain front.

Heavy rainfall was also monitored in Kyoto, some 500 kilometres (310 miles) east of the affected areas in Kyushu, on Sunday, flooding more than 20 houses, news reports said.

About 20 people were temporarily trapped in the city as stream broke a river bank following rainfall of nine centimetres per hour, but they were later rescued safely, the reports added.

source: interaksyon.com

400,000 ordered to evacuate as rains continue to swamp Japan

About 400,000 people were ordered or advised to leave their homes in southwest Japan Saturday as heavy rain pounded the area for a third day leaving 29 dead or missing, officials and media said.

The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of more landslides and floods on the main southern island of Kyushu as rainfall of up to 11 centimeters (4.3 inches) per hour was recorded Saturday.

Evacuation orders were issued to about 260,000 people in the north of the island where more rivers burst their banks, Kyushu's local media reported.

They were told to go to designated shelters such as schools and other public facilities.

Nearly 140,000 other people were advised to leave their homes to avoid possible disaster, according to officials contacted by AFP in the four affected prefectures in Kyushu.

Television footage showed torrents of muddy, debris-strewn water and flooded houses following what officials described as "unprecedented" downpours from a seasonal rain front.

Along the Yamakuni river in Oita prefecture, water levels were seen reaching the roof of a riverside drive-in restaurant before subsiding later.

In Fukuoka prefecture alone, 78,600 people were ordered to evacuate their homes as rivers overflowed in dozens of places and 181 landslides occurred, an official said.

About 820 houses were damaged and three bridges washed away, Fukuoka prefecture spokesman Hiroaki Aoki told AFP by telephone.

"Two men were rescued from landslides but their conditions were not immediately available. One woman was still trapped," he said. "I don't remember any flooding which stretched over such a wide area in our prefecture."

More than 75 centimeters of rain fell in 72 hours in the city of Aso, situated at the foot of a volcano in Kumamoto prefecture, the meteorological agency said.

The death toll remained at 20 overnight, with 19 of the fatalities from landslides and house collapses in and near Aso.

Nine people were missing, with two listed on Saturday after a 30-year-old man fell into a swelling river in his car in Oita and a 83-year-old woman was buried in a landslide in Fukuoka.

source: interaksyon.com

At least 99 killed in southern Russia floods disaster

MOSCOW -- Severe flash floods in Russia's southern Krasnodar region have killed at least 99 people and affected nearly 13,000 in the area's worst natural disaster in decades, officials said Saturday.

Residents were caught completely by surprise by the force of the waters, which ripped up paving and traffic lights and flooded the ground floors of houses within minutes, witnesses and officials said.

One woman reportedly had to spend a night up a tree before being rescued from the floods caused by exceptionally heavy rainstorms.

In the district of Krymsk, the area worst hit by the disaster, officials had already discovered 88 bodies including that of a 10-year-old child, regional police spokesman Igor Zhelyabin told AFP.

Officials have not been able to explain the large number of deaths, except by saying that the disaster struck while residents were asleep.

"Everything happened at night and very quickly," the regional administration said in a statement.

Zhelyabin declined to speculate on the reasons behind the massive toll, saying Moscow-based investigators were conducting a probe.

The Russian Internet was abuzz with speculation that people died in a man-made catastrophe resulting from an open sluice gate at a water reservoir.

Authorities denied the reports.

"Unfortunately, the rumour mills works much faster than the official information," a spokeswoman for the regional governor, Anna Minkova, said on popular Echo of Moscow radio.

"No water reservoir, no gate has been opened," she said, adding that the district did not have a reservoir that might have caused the flooding.

Nine people were reported killed in the Black Sea resort town of Gelendzhik and another two in the port of Novorossiisk over the past two days, Zhelyabin said.

The victims included two woman and three men electrocuted in Gelendzhik on Friday. The authorities said they had to switch off power in the worst-affected areas to avoid more deaths.

Tatyana, a resident of Krymsk whose house, perched on a hill, was not affected by the floods, said the disaster struck unexpectedly.

"The water rose very quickly," she told AFP by phone, declining to give her last name.

"It flooded people's ground floors in five to 10 minutes, ripped out pavement kerbs and even pieces of asphalt," she said.

Local people had received no warning from the emergency services, she added.

"Many elderly people must have been asleep and probably died," she said.

"In the morning, there were boats on the neighbouring street. A woman spent the night in a tree and then was rescued."

The resort town of Gelendzhik received five months' worth of rain in 24 hours, the regional administration said.

Novorossiisk, Russia's largest port on the Black Sea, received two month's worth of rain in 24 hours.

A team had worked through the night to bring the situation under control in the port, port spokesman Mikhail Sidorov said.

"In some places the water level reached 1.5 metres (five feet)," he told AFP.

The floods and a landslide had affected the port's operations and pipeline operator Transneft had informed management that it would halt shipments of crude oil, he added.

"Vladimir Putin is regularly receiving information about the state of affairs in Kuban from the health, emergencies situations and regional development," the Kremlin said in a statement.

Krasnodar governor Alexander Tkachev said he had spoken by phone to both President Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and pledged everything would be done to help those affected by the floods.

"Of course, it came as a shock to us," he said. "We've never had this before."

In remarks broadcast on television, he expressed the hope that residents would not resort to looting.

"You can see from the air that the water in Gelendzhik has nearly died down but something unimaginable is happening in Krymsk," Tkachev said on Twitter as he toured the flood-hit areas.

"A rescue operation is ongoing. More bodies are being discovered," Zhelyabin said, adding he feared the death toll could still rise.

Earlier, the Krasnodar regional authorities said this was the worst flooding to hit the region in a decade.

"Non-stop rain has turned several districts of the region into an emergency zone," they said in a statement, with the floods affecting the homes of nearly 13,000 people.

source: interaksyon.com