“The projected impact of Typhoon Kristine is expected to reach 30 million individuals across various regions,” according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Monday.
In response, Civil Defense Administrator USec Ariel Nepomuceno has issued an urgent call for heightened preparedness for this anticipated impact.
This significant increase from an earlier estimate of one million highlights the cyclone’s potential to affect a vast population, spanning from Luzon to Mindanao.
“According to the latest forecast from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the number of potential victims has surged to 30 million. This is a considerable population at risk, and we need all hands on deck to mitigate the impacts of this disaster,” Nepomuceno stated.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has reported that over 18,000 barangays are at risk of rain-induced landslides and floods, particularly in Central Visayas, Cordillera Administrative Region, Eastern Visayas, Ilocos Region, MIMAROPA, Northern Mindanao, SOCCSKSARGEN, Western Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula.
In Metro Manila, 1,403 barangays are also vulnerable to landslide and flood hazards due to Kristine. This includes areas in Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Pasay, Pateros, Las Piñas, Makati, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Taguig, Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Pasig, San Juan, and Manila.
Kristine is the Philippines’ 11th tropical cyclone of 2024 and has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
PAGASA has issued Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 in 15 areas nationwide due to the expected strong winds associated with Kristine.
The storm is anticipated to continue moving generally westward until tomorrow before turning northwestward for the remainder of the week.
Forecasts indicate that Kristine may strengthen into a storm potentially reaching severe tropical storm status by Wednesday and typhoon status by Thursday. Landfall is expected over the northeastern portion of Cagayan by Friday afternoon.
