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Typhoon “Surigae” (Bising) leaves 3 dead, 230 000 displaced in the Philippines

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At least three fatalities have been reported and around 230 000 have been displaced due to the onslaught of Typhoon "Surigae"– locally called Bising– in the Philippines, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported Wednesday, April 21, 2021. The storm remains at sea but continues to threaten parts of Luzon.

Surigae is the first Super Typhoon of the year and the strongest April tropical cyclone on record, surpassing the 2015 Typhoon "Maysak".

According to NASA, when the storm reached Category 5 strength on April 17, "it marked the earliest date in the year that any storm in the Northern Hemisphere had reached such intensity in modern record-keeping."

In a preliminary report by the NDRRMC, casualties were confirmed in Bicol, Central/Eastern Visayas, and Davao Region, with 10 others injured and one missing. Cases are still being validated, it added.

Among the fatalities was a 79-year-old man, who suffered blunt head trauma after being hit by an uprooted tree. Another victim, a woman aged 47, died after sustaining major injuries due to a fallen tree. A 19-year-old girl in Hagonoy also died in the same manner.

Other injured victims were due to either posts or trees felled by strong winds. Meanwhile, search and rescue operations are ongoing to locate a missing man in San Jose, Northern Samar.

"The person went to an island on a boat and was caught in bad weather," said NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal.

The storm has also ravaged the agricultural sector in Bicol and Eastern Visayas, with almost 1 million dollars or 50 million pesos worth of damage.

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Power was down in 63 towns and cities in Bicol and Central/Eastern Visayas. As of Wednesday, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and local electric cooperatives are still working on restoring power in these areas. 

Around 59 098 families or 229 829 people have been affected in 944 barangays in Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and Caraga regions.

Out of these figures, 3 848 families or 15 813 people are being assisted in evacuation centers, while roughly 21 648 individuals are staying with relatives or friends.

"It’s possible that within the day or tomorrow (April 22) we’ll start sending them home," Timbal stated.

While the weather has started to gradually improve, stormy weather with strong winds is expected to prevail while the storm remains at sea, threatening parts of Luzon.

"The typhoon has yet to leave, it’s still there and we hope that we continue to cooperate with the government. If the LGUs order us to evacuate, let’s not dilly-dally. In the evacuation center, let’s make sure to wear a mask, wash hands, sanitize and observe physical distancing."

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Image credit: JTWC

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Image credit: PAGASA

In an update issued by PAGASA at 09:00 UTC (17:00 LT), Surigae is slightly weakening as it accelerates northward. Winds of at least strong breeze to near gale in strength extend outward up to 370 km (230 miles) from the center. Destructive typhoon-force winds extend outward up to 90 km (56 miles) from the center.

Rough to high seas will be experienced over the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon. Sea travel is still dangerous for all types of ships.

Rough to very rough seas are forecast over the western seaboard of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon, while moderate to rough seas are expected over the western seaboard o Central Luzon, as well as the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar.

As of 08:00 UTC (16:00 LT), the center of Surigae was located at 345 km (214 miles) east-northeast of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, moving northward at 15 km/h (9 mph) with maximum sustained winds of 165 km/h (102 mph) and gusts of up to 205 km/h (127 mph).

Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 1 is still up for Batanes, the eastern portion of Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands, and the eastern portion of Isabela. The storm is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Monday afternoon, April 26.

Featured image credit: Joy-cee beer

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