Disaster management officials in Cagayan Valley started preparations Sunday for a preemptive and forced evacuation of people in high-risk areas and will be implemented once the effects of super typhoon Juan is felt.
“Anytime today, the forced evacuations can start, Norma Talosig, regional director of the Civil Defense Office, said in an interview on radio dzBB.
Juan is forecast to make landfall in Cagayan Valley within the next 24 hours, according to the weather bureau.
“Cagayan including Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands, and Isabela will experience stormy weather with rough to very rough seas," the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical & Asrtonomical Services Administration said in its 8 a.m. bulletin Sunday.
“The rest of Northern Luzon will have rains and gusty winds. The rest of the country will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms," the weather bureau also known as PAGASA added.
At least four areas were placed under Storm Signal No. 2 early Sunday as Juan (international name: Megi) continued to intensify and endanger northern Luzon.
PAGASA warned that Metro Manila residents the may feel the effects of Juan even if the typhoon will not directly pass over the area, as of the the latest weather report as of posting time.
“It is not likely to hit Metro Manila. It is heading for Aparri, Cagayan. But once Juan makes landfall, Metro Manila residents may feel its effects because it is expected to affect a large area," PAGASA forecaster Anthony Lucero said in a separate interview on dzBB radio.
Lucero said the effects of the storm signals will be felt in the next 24 hours, even as “Juan" remains likely to intensify into a super typhoon as it is still at sea and gathering strength.
The weather bureau went on red alert Sunday, according to deputy director Nathaniel Servando during a 7 a.m. press briefing.
Servando said quick response teams were dispatched to northern Luzon to help update information as to when and where Juan will actually hit.— VS
