Evacuation in Cagayan starts as Pepeng makes 3rd landfall

Tropical depression "Pepeng" (international name: Parma) made a third landfall in northern Philippines Thursday, prompting rescue workers to evacuate residents of at least seven coastal towns of Cagayan province. A report by radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo said that Cagayan Governor Alvaro Antonio mobilized at least 500 rescue workers to help implement the evacuation. Evacuated were residents in Amulung, Aparri, Ballesteros, Lasam, Buguey, Camalaniugan, and Santa Teresita towns, the report said. The exact number of those evacuated, however, was not mentioned in the report. Earlier, weather forecasters said 18 areas remained under storm signal No. 1 as Pepeng made landfall and moved slowly in a westward direction. Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) weather bureau chief Nathaniel Cruz said Pepeng made its landfall over Cagayan. "Muling tumama sa kalupaan, sa probinsya ng Cagayan, sa Cagayan province na ito (It made landfall again, this time over Cagayan province)," he said in an interview on dzBB radio. Cruz said Pepeng is expected to stay at least three more days in Philippine territory.

Last weekend, Pepeng - which had the makings of a super typhoon - made landfall over Cagayan, then over Ilocos Norte. In its 11 a.m. advisory, Pagasa said Pepeng was estimated at 60 km northeast of Tuguegarao City, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center. Pepeng is forecast to move west slowly and is expected to be in the vicinity of Tuguegarao City or 120 km east of Laoag City Friday morning. By Saturday morning it is expected to be 70 km southeast of Laoag City. By Sunday morning it is expected to be 210 km west northwest of Vigan City. Areas under storm signal No. 1 are Batanes Group of Islands, Cagayan, Babuyan Islands, Calayan Islands, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and Northern Aurora. Pagasa reminded residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes under signal 1 to take precautions against flashfloods and landslides. Meanwhile, it said an LPA was estimated at 1,970 km east of Luzon. - GMANews.TV