PH braces for another typhoon

Officials are on high alert, as looming Typhoon Lawin (international name: Haima) is expected to be “much stronger” and wider than “Karen.”

“Lawin will be much stronger than Karen. It will have sufficient time and distance to intensify,” warned Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director.

“We will exert all our best effort to anticipate the damages and make necessary preparations,” Jalad said on Mon, Oct 17.

He said Lawin is expected to hit northen Luzon, and take a track “a little bit higher” and “larger, bigger than Typhoon Karen.”

He said President Rodrigo Duterte, who will be in Brunei and China this week, already issued orders to speed up services.

“[The marching order is to] deliver what’s expected of us, as well fast-track delivery of services, rehabilitation or reconstruction of damage of infrastructure,” Jalad said.

Officials earlier said Typhoon “Karen” has already left the Philippine area of responsibility but not before leaving more than half a billion pesos in agriculture damage in Bicol and Cordilleara, while forcing thousands of families to leave their homes.

In its 11am advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said tropical cyclone Haima is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility Mon afternoon, Oct 17, and will be locally known as “Lawin.”

Packing 150 kph winds and gusts of up to 185 kph, the cyclone was last sighted 1,265 kilometers east of Visayas as of 10am.

This story first appeared on ABS-CBN News Online and is republished with permission.