Image by rembcc on Flickr
There is a saying that bad things come in threes; and unfortunately, at least with regards to Tropical Typhoons in the Republic of the Philippines - this looks to be the case.
The Philippines is still recovering from the loss and devastation that Tropical Storm “Ondoy” (international codename: Ketsana), which triggered the worst flooding in Manila in over 40 years, and Super Typhoon “Pepeng” (international codename: Parma) wrought on the pacific archipelago in the past month. The two storms, which occurred within about a week of each other, killed 773 people and caused more than $7 million in damages.
Unfortunately, the country is once again faced with a serious new threat. Typhoon “Ramil” (international codename: “Lupit” - which is also the Filipino word for “Cruel”) is on a track that would make landfall in the Luzon region of the Philippines early this week.
“Ramil” has now intensified into a typhoon and has already entered the Philippine area of responsibility, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Friday. It was about 625 miles (1,000 kilometers) east of Manila at 4:00 PM (1:00 AM, PST) Saturday, and is moving in the general direction of Northern and Central Luzon, according to PAGASA.
Packing winds of 87 miles per hour (140 kilometers per hour) and gusts of up to 106 mph (170 kph), the weather disturbance is not expected to make landfall and to directly affect any part of the country within the next 36 hours.
That being said though, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said that the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) has been instructed to pre-position the equipment needed for rescue operations as well as relief goods to the areas that the storm is expected to hit. Furthermore, local officials and residents of these areas have been already warned to remember the lessons learned from “Ondoy" and “Pepeng" and to prepare for another onslaught from Mother Nature.
In Benguet province's Cordillera mountain region, Gov. Nestor Fongwan said he had ordered police officers to go house-to-house to urge residents to leave in a "pre-emptive evacuation" ahead of Typhoon Lupit, which could reach the Philippines by Tuesday.
To find out what Pilipino-American have been doing and are continuing to do to help our kababayans, please visit:
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Comments
Thanks for starting the discussion, Jer.
I just had a nephew arrive there this week who let me know that our relatives there have survived Ondoy, but now with this latest typhoon I have him to worry about also.
Prayers for all those being affected by these typhoons.
Let's keep the discussion happening here on BakitWhy.com. Share your stories and what thoughts are going through your head as these disasters happen in the Philippines.