MANILA, PHILIPPINES, November 1, 2020 – As of Sunday morning Philippine time, two howlers have entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
The first, Super Typhoon Goni (local name Super Typhoon Rolly), is the strongest storm recorded anywhere in the world so far this year. In terms of strength, it is the equivalent of a Category 5 Atlantic hurricane. It is the most powerful storm to hit the Philippines since Typhoon Haiyan (local name Super Typhoon Yolanda) killed 6,000 people in 2013.
Almost a million people have already been evacuated due to Super Typhoon Goni. According to the Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), between 19 million to 31 million could be displaced by Super Typhoon Goni.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has already suspended its railway services in Metro Manila: Light Rail Transit-1 (LRT-1), Light Rail Transit-2 (LRT-2) as well as Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT-3). The Philippine National Railways (PNR) also suspended its operations.
Added to this, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) was closed for 24 hours starting 10am, November 1, Manila time.
As of this writing, Super Typhoon Goni has made its third landfall over San Narcisco, Quezon, even if it has weakened into a typhoon and now off the coast of Pasacao, Camarines Sur.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA-DOST) had earlier issued a Red Warning to the following areas, with associated hazard of serious flooding: Quezon (Gumaca, Pitogo, San narcisco, San Francisco, San Andres, Mulanay, Buenavista, Catanauan, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Calauag, Lopez, Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Plaridel, Unisan, General Luna, Macalelon, Perez, Quezon, Alabat, and Atimonan). Yellow Warning was given to Batangas and other cities of Quezon province. Light to moderate with occasional heavy rains affected Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
Meanwhile, PAGASA issued severe bulletin #1 announcing that tropical storm Atsani (Local name tropical storm Siony) also entered PAR and was last spotted at 1,365 kilometers east of Central Luzon.
ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Inc. has activated its award-winning Sagip Kapamilya operations to help individuals and families in severely damaged areas in the Philippines. Relief operations are ongoing in Dingalan, Aurora, with the provision of food packs for hundreds of families in evacuation centers. Operations will be mobilized for Samar and Bicol areas as well, including Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Albay.
To donate, please see artcard above or visit https://corporate.abs-cbn.com/lingkodkapamilya/donation-sagipkapamilya