Super typhoon claims first death, displaces over 1m
Super Typhoon Uwan claimed its first fatality yesterday, even before the vast weather disturbance’s full fury was felt across the country.
In an update early Sunday evening, the Office of Civil Defense reported that an individual was killed and another was injured in Catanduanes, while one person was hurt in Calinog town in Iloilo.
The state weather bureau warned that life-threatening conditions would prevail over Camarines Norte as the super typhoon continues to move west-northwestward, threatening Aurora and the Polillo Islands.
The center of Uwan’s eye was estimated 110 kilometers north of Daet, Camarines Norte, or 150 km east-northeast of Infanta, Quezon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 5 p.m. bulletin on Sunday.
It was moving west-northwestward at 30 km/h with maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 230 km/h.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 5 was raised over the southern portion of Quirino, the southeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, the northeastern portion of Nueva Ecija, the central portion of Aurora, the Polillo Islands, and the northern portion of Camarines Norte, including Calaguas Islands.
Signal No. 4 was hoisted over the southern portion of Isabela, the rest of Quirino, the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, the southern portion of Mountain Province, the southern portion of Ifugao, Benguet, the southern portion of Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, the rest of Aurora, the rest of Nueva Ecija, the northernmost portion of Zambales, the northeastern portion of Tarlac, the easternmost portion of Pampanga, the eastern portion of Bulacan, the northern portion of Rizal, the northern and eastern portions of Quezon, the rest of Camarines Norte, the northern portion of Camarines Sur and the northern portion of Catanduanes.
In the same bulletin, PAGASA said “Uwan” would likely move west-northwestward over the next 24 hours.
Uwan’s eye was expected to pass close to Polillo Islands before making landfall at or near its peak intensity (e.g., as a super typhoon or an upper limit of typhoon) over the central portion of Aurora Sunday night or Monday early morning.
Due to its proximity and the size of its eyewall, a direct hit (i.e., eyewall affecting the area without making landfall) over Calaguas and Polillo Islands is likely.
After landfall, “Uwan” will traverse the mountainous terrain of Northern Luzon and emerge over Lingayen Gulf or the coastal waters of Pangasinan or La Union this morning.
The interaction with the terrain will cause “Uwan” to weaken significantly, but it is expected to remain as a typhoon throughout its passage over Northern Luzon.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. urged the public to comply with preemptive evacuation directives as Super Typhoon Uwan continued to sweep across the country.
He cited reports of people refusing to leave their homes despite calls for preemptive evacuation.
“That’s why there will be forced evacuations in certain areas, if they are still possible [given time constraints],” he said in Filipino.
Teodoro, who also chairs the National Disaster and Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), said refusing to follow preemptive evacuation measures will endanger the lives of both residents and rescuers.
He also warned of legal consequences for those who resist forced evacuation orders.
As of Sunday morning, over 900,000 individuals have already been evacuated preemptively and sheltered in 522 evacuation centers nationwide.
Teodoro also ordered the establishment of a Lead Joint Information Center for Coordinated Crisis Response ahead of the typhoon’s arrival.
The JIC was formed “to enhance coordination and communication during critical situations,” he said.
Key agencies, including the OCD, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, and Philippine Coast Guard, are part of the JIC.
Over the weekend, President Marcos placed all government agencies on full alert.
“We are continuously monitoring the intensification of Typhoon Uwan as it approaches Northern Luzon. All government agencies are on full alert and are taking immediate action to ensure the safety of our fellow citizens,” Mr. Marcos said in a statement in Filipino.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Bicol in danger from Super Typhoon ‘Uwan’”
