Over 100,000 residents in Bicol region evacuated in preparation for typhoon “Mina”

By Ronron
November 23, 2007

Over 100,000 residents in the Bicol region have been brought to safer grounds as of Friday afternoon in preparation for the landfall of typhoon “Mina” by Saturday, disaster officials said yesterday.

Region 5 Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Director Bernardo Alejandro said the evacuees are mostly from Albay province, while the rest are from Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes and Sorsogon provinces.

Alejandro was not immediately prepared to say the target number of evacuees for the entire region but he said that for Albay alone, Governor Joey Salceda has identified 236,000 residents that need to be evacuated.

The evacuation started last Wednesday after local officials were warned of the possible strength of “Mina,” which, at 5pm yesterday already had maximum sustained winds near the center of 175 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 210 kph.

“Mina” entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility even as tropical storm “Lando” have yet to exit.

“We are hoping to meet our target of zero casualties,” Alejandro said.

As of 5pm, the Region 5 OCD has recorded 19,164 families or 91,377 persons evacuated in Albay; 7,562 families or 35,909 persons in Camarines Sur; 1,348 families or 6,456 persons in Sorsogon; 356 families in Catanduanes; 484 families in Camarines Norte; and, 100 families in Masbate.

There were also 971 persons stranded in the region because sea vessels were not allowed to sail off to Visayas. Along with these persons are 25 buses, 59 trucks and 19 small cars.

Among the provinces in the region, only Albay declared a State of Calamity, allowing the provincial government to avail of the calamity fund.

“Mina” was located some 220 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes at around 4pm yesterday, and with a speed of seven kph, it is expected to hit landfall in Catanduanes Saturday.

In its 5pm advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) declared public storm warning signal number 3 in Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Albay, Burias Island, Camarines Sur, and Camarines Norte.

It declared signal number 2 in southern Quezon, Polillo Island, Marinduque, Romblon, Masbate and Northern Samar.

And signal number 1 was declared in Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, rest of Quezon, Aurora, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Calamian Group of Islands, Isabela, Quirino, Western Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran Island, Aklan, Capiz, and northern part of Leyte.

PAGASA warned residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes under storm warning signals to be alerted for possible flashfloods, mudslides and landslides.

Those living in coastal areas are also advised to be on alert for big waves generated by the tropical cyclone.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo convened the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) early yesterday evening at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City where she directed officials of concerned agencies and local government units to “do your work” as she wished them “good luck.”

The different governors of the Bicol provinces have reported to Arroyo via phone that so far, the weather in their respective areas was still favorable as of early last night. They were one in saying that it was just cloudy, and rain showers were just light and occasional. The wind was also still normal.

According to Dr. Graciano Yumul of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), “Mina” is expected to hit landfall by Saturday morning./DMS