Philippines Storm Update: More Calamity Ahead as Zoraida Finally Enters, Threat Low Compared to Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda (Photos)
Tropical depression Zoraida has finally entered the Philippines, placing at least 30 areas under storm signal no. 1, barely a week after Category 5 super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) ripped across the country.
Zoraida is expected to make landfall over the Davao region between 11 am and 1 pm on Tuesday, Jun Galang, a forecaster from the state weather bureau agency Philippines Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) told local dzBB radio.
Storm signal no. 1 has been hoisted over the following areas:
Luzon
Cuyo Island
Northern Palawan
The Calamian Group
Visayas
Siquijor
Southern Cebu
Bohol
Negros Oriental
Negros Occidental
Antique
Iloilo
Guimaras
Mindanao
Dinagat Province
Siargao Island
Agusan del Norte
Agusan del Sur
Surigao del Norte
Surigao del Sur
Davao Oriental
Compostela Valley
Davao del Norte
Samal Island
Bukidnon
Misamis Oriental
Misamis Occidental
Lanao del Norte
Lanao del Sur
North Cotabato
Camiguin Island
Northern Zamboanga del Norte
Zamboanga del Sur
"We have implemented forced evacuation in the five islands within Hinatuan's jurisdiction and massive preemptive evacuation in all the 24 barangays," Josephine Lapiros, municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, told MindaNews.
In its 5 am bulletin, PAGASA said Zoraida was 216 kilometres southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. With maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometres per hour near the center, it is forecast to move northwest at 30 kph.
Local authorities expect Zoraida to inflict damage along its path, but not as massive compared to what Category 5 super typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda did four days ago.
"I was talking to the people of Tacloban," Senior Presidential aide Rene Alemendras told the Associated Press. "They said 'we were ready for the wind. We were not ready for the water.'" Estimates placed 10,000 people perished from super typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda alone.
PAGASA expects tropical depression Zoraida to be 123 km south-southwest of Iloilo City by Wednesday morning, and then on Thursday morning, 517 km west of Coron, Palawan.
"By Thursday afternoon, it is expected to be outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at 890 km west-northwest of Coron, Palawan," the weather service said.
PAGASA advised the tropical depression will dump moderate to heavy rainfall within its 300-kilometre diameter. Flashfloods and landslides are highly possible.