Tino still threatens large parts of the country,听to hit Palawan on Wednesday听
Typhoon听Kalmaegi, locally known as Tino, is still expected to bring devastating winds and torrential rains to large parts of the听country,听and is expected to hit Northern Palawan by Wednesday morning, the state weather bureau said.听
The typhoon,听maintaining听sustained winds of听130 kilometers听per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 180 kph, was last听located听over the vicinity of听Patnongon听in Antique, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in a 5:00 p.m. press briefing.听
By early Wednesday morning, it is expected to reach the coastal waters of Linapacan, Palawan, and continue traversing until it exits over the West Philippine Sea.听
PAGASA raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 in听several areas, which are expected to experience听typhoon-force winds. This includes Calamian and Cuyo Islands in Luzon, and the central and southern portions of Antique and Iloilo, as well as听Guimaras听in the Visayas.听
Signal No. 3, where storm-force winds are expected, is raised in the northernmost听portion听of mainland Palawan in Luzon, the rest of Antique, Aklan, Capiz, the northern and central portions of Negros Occidental, and the northern听portion听of Negros Oriental in the Visayas.听
Meanwhile, Signal No. 2, where gale-force winds are expected, is hoisted in southwestern Masbate, the southern portions of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, southern Romblon, northern Palawan including听Cagayancillo听Islands, Cebu, the听central portion听of Negros Oriental, and the rest of Negros Occidental.听
Signal No. 1 is in effect in the southern portion of Quezon, southern Marinduque, the rest of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, the rest of Romblon, the rest of Masbate, including听Burias听and听Ticao听Islands, central Palawan, Biliran, northwestern Leyte, Camotes Islands, northern and western Bohol, Siquijor, and the rest of Negros Oriental.听
Following its multiple landfalls, Typhoon听Kalmaegi听has brought destructive winds and flooding, primarily in Cebu province, with floodwaters听reportedly reaching听above human height in some areas.听
Several aftermath photos posted on social media show many homes swept away or dilapidated, with cars also carried off by听floodwaters,听some piled on top of each other.听
The national disaster agency has yet to release an official report about the estimated cost of damage caused by听Kalmaegi.听听
Cebu Governor Pamela S.听Baricuatro听said in a press briefing on Tuesday that clearing and relief operations are ongoing amid the typhoon. She also extended the suspension of work in all national and local government offices until Wednesday.听
In Sagay City, Negros Occidental, one of the typhoon鈥檚 landfall sites,听nearly 4,000听individuals are set to receive family food packs and other relief.听
ANOTHER TYPHOON?
While parts of the country are still inundated by floodwaters caused by听Kalmaegi, a tropical depression has developed听a few hours ago听outside of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), with the possibility of it intensifying into a typhoon, according to PAGASA.听
The cyclone, packing 55 kph sustained winds and 70 kph gusts, was听located听1,900 kilometers听east of northeastern Mindanao, moving 57 kph west-southwest.听
It is expected to enter the PAR by Saturday, and the possibility听of it听making landfall in parts of the country is not ruled out, PAGASA said.听鈥斕Edg听Adrian A. Eva听听
