Super typhoon Yolanda makes landfall

Nov. 7, 2013

By ABS-CBNnews.com

MANILA – Typhoon “Yolanda” (international name Haiyan) has made landfall in Eastern Visayas, threatening areas in its path, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

PAGASA said Yolanda made landfall over Guiuan, Eastern Samar at 4:40 a.m.

Yolanda was packing maximum sustained winds of 235 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 275 kph.

More areas have been placed under public storm warning signal no. 4, where winds of at least 185 kph may be felt in at least 12 hours.

PAGASA said areas under signal no. 4 are Masbate, Ticao Island, Southern Sorsogon, Romblon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte , Biliran , Northern Cebu, Cebu City, Bantayan, Camotes Island, Northern Negros Occidental, Capiz, Aklan, Antique, Iloilo, and Guimaras.

Under signal no. 3 are Burias Island, Albay, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Calamian Group of Islands, the rest of Sorsogon, the rest of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, the rest of Cebu, Bohol, Surigao del Norte, and Siargao Island.

Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Southern Quezon, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, MetroManila, Cavite, Bataan, Lubang Island, Siquijor , Northern Palawan , Puerto Princesa, Camiguin, Surigao Del Sur, and Agusan Del Norte have been placed under signal no. 2.

Meanwhile, under signal no. 1 are Camarines Norte, rest of Quezo , Polilio Island, Bulacan, Pampanga, Zambales, Misamis Oriental, and Agusan del Sur.

PAGASA said Yolanda is forecast to move west northwest at 39 kph. After hitting Guiuan, it is expected to traverse the provinces of Biliran, the northern tip of Cebu, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Romblon, Semirara Island, southern part of Mindoro and then Busuanga.

Yolanda is expected to exit Philippine landmass on Saturday morning, moving towards the West Philippine Sea.

An estimated rainfall amount of 10 to 30 millimeters per hour (heavy – intense) is expected within the typhoon’s 400-km diameter.

Sea travel is risky over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon.

Residents in low lying and mountainous areas under signal nos. 4, 3 and 2 are alerted against possible flash floods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas under signal nos. 4, 3 and 2 are alerted against storm surges which may produce waves with height of at least 7 meters.