Typhoon “Rolly” likely to hit Catanduanes Sunday morning
MANILA – The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Typhoon “Rolly” will like make landfall over Catanduanes early Sunday morning and over mainland Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte tomorrow morning and over Quezon Province in the afternoon where violent winds and intense rainfall associated with the inner rainband-eyewall region will be felt in Catanduanes, Camarines Provinces early morning through afternoon and over Quezon tomorrow afternoon until evening.
It is expected to cross Southern Luzon and Metro Manila tomorrow evening, the center of “Rolly” is expected to leave mainland Luzon landmass at dawn of Monday.
It is expected to remain a typhoon category with winds from 85 to 215 kilometers per hour by the time it makes a landfall. It is also expected to weaken while crossing Luzon and Metro Manila and simply be classified as severe tropical storm or a minimal typhoon over the West Philippine Sea.
It has been said very destructive typhoon-force winds will be experienced in areas under in areas under Tropical Wind Signal # 4 while destructive typhoon-force winds in areas under Tropical Wind Signal # 3 with damaging gale-to-storm-force winds in areas under Tropical Wind Signal No. 2 and strong breeze to near gale conditions will prevail in areas under Tropical Wind Signal No. 1.
In its latest Tropical Cyclone advisory released at 11:00 P.M., PAGASA said with the inner rainband-eyewall region will be experienced over Catanduanes tonight until tomorrow morning while Camarines Provinces and the northern portion of Albay including Rapu-rapu Islands will experience the same early morning tomorrow until afternoon.
Meanwhile, General Gilbert Gapay, AFP chief of staff has placed all military units on red alert status to maximize the availability of military personnel in preparation for the possible damage due to Typhon “Rolly.”
In a statement released by Navy Capt. Jonathan A. Zata from the AFP’s Public Information Office, he said the AFP considers this move as “a pre-emptive measure” to ensure that the AFP is at its maximum capacity to deploy personnel and equipment for humanitarian and disaster response operations.
He also ordered coordination with other government agencies in jointly monitoring the weather disturbance as well as preparations to mitigate the impact in their respective areas of responsibility.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said 1,160 persons remain stranded in various ports in Southern Tagalog and Bicol regions along with 456 vessels as 62 other vessels have taken shelter to avoid possible damage as “Rolly” moves closer to Southern Luzon.
Different local government officials have ordered pre-emptive evacuation of thousands of residents in Southern Luzon as a strong typhoon nears. Typhoon “Rolly” with international name “Goni” is said to be the world’s strongest typhoon this year.
As of 10:00 P.M., Saturday, the eye of Typhoon “Rolly” was located at 185 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes with maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 265 kilometers per hour. It was reported moving west southwestward at 25 kilometers per hour.
Tomorrow evening, it is expected to be in the vicinity of Tanauan City in densely populated Batangas province. By Monday evening it is expected to be 385 kilometers west of Iba in Zambales province in Central Luzon. (Melo M. Acuña)
The latest graphics from PAGASA (left) and part of the weekend crowd at the People's Park in Tagaytay City at 1:00 P.M. Saturday after weather forecasters declared Cavite Province among the areas under Tropical Wind Signal No.1. (PAGASA material/Melo M. Acuna Photo)