No classes in metro, 5 Luzon provinces as ‘Egay’ moves in

(Updated 1:10 am, Aug. 16)Classes in all levels remain suspended on Thursday in Metro Manila and five Luzon provinces, as Typhoon "Egay" continued to gain strength with maximum winds of 185 kilometers per hour and gustiness of 220 kph. It was plotted at 410 km northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, by 10 p.m. Wednesday. Storm signal no. 1 is up over Catanduanes, Cagayan and Isabela provinces. Apart from Metro Manila, classes were suspended in Rizal, Bataan, Cavite, Laguna and Batangas provinces for elementary, high school and college students. The announcement was made by Glenn Rabonza, executive officer of the National Disaster Coordinating Council. State weather agency Pagasa on late Wednesday night said Egay has gained strength, packing 185 kilometers per hour winds and gustiness of up to 220 kph as it moved closer to the Philippines. In its 11 p.m. severe weather bulletin No. 7, Pagasa said Egay has intensified further and was moving in a west northwest direction at 11 kph. The typhoon’s location as of 10 p.m. was plotted 410 km northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, or 610 km southeast of Aparri, Cagayan (coordinates: 16.0°N, 127.4°E). Pagasa said that by Thursday evening, Egay is expected to be at 410 km east southeast of Aparri, Cagayan and by Friday evening, 200 km northeast of Aparri, Cagayan or 170 km southeast of Basco, Batanes. On Saturday evening, the weather disturbance will be 220 km north of Basco, Batanes or near southern Taiwan. According to Pagasa, the areas having Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1 are Catanduanes, Cagayan and Isabela. The typhoon will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon, which will bring rains over Luzon and the Visayas, according to Pagasa. No advisory on work The NDCC's Rabonza said the President ordered the suspension of the classes on the recommendation of Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, who is the concurrent NDCC chairman. “Its still the typhoon and southwest monsoon rains," replied Rabonza when asked why there a suspension of the classes. “It was recommended by NDCC chairman and the President has approved it," the official said. Rabonza said the NDCC did not make a recommendation to the President on whether work in government offices should resume Thursday. Government employees were sent home early Wednesday due to anticipated intensified rains. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) hoisted public storm signal warning 1 over Catanduanes, Cagayan province and Isabela. Malacañang canceled work in Metro Manila government offices starting 1 p.m., while classes were suspended in the metropolis past 9 a.m. Although the typhoon continued to intensify, state weather forecasters said the heavy rains on Wednesday were caused by the southwest monsoon, which "Egay" has enhanced with its recent activity. Pagasa had previously predicted that Egay's rains would likely pummel Luzon from Thursday up until Saturday. Robert Sawi, Pagasa senior weather forecaster, told dzBB radio in Filipino that the typhoon was approaching "little by little" towards the Luzon "landmass." In its 5 p.m. advisory, Pagasa said "Egay" was now blowing maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the center and carried gusts of up to 210 kph. It was last spotted some 400 kms east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes or 670 kms southeast of Aparri in Cagayan. Sawi said the typhoon was now moving at a slower pace of 9 kph. As this developed, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said 44 families or 223 people have been evacuated in Metro Manila as of Wednesday noon. Most the affected residents were evacuated from Marikina City, with 23 families or 113 people taken to safer ground. In Malabon, 14 families or 70 people were evacuated. Rescuers also relocated seven families or 35 people in San Juan City. Closer to Luzon "Egay" is expected to located some 380 kms east of Casiguran, Aurora or 470 kms southeast of Aparri by Thursday afternoon. Come Friday afternoon, it is predicted to hover some 200 kms east northeast of Aparri or 250 kms southeast of Basco, Batanes. The typhoon will likely be located 180 kms northwest of Basco or in the vicinity of southern Taiwan by Saturday afternoon, Pagasa said. "Residents along coastal areas under signal number one are alerted against big waves and storm surges generated by this typhoon. Likewise, those living in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes are advised to take all the necessary precautions against possible flashfloods and landslides," Pagasa said. Home-bound As employees in private offices started to head to their homes, floodwaters rose late Wednesday afternoon and worsened traffic in several parts of Metro Manila. In Pasay City, gutter-deep floods kept vehicles almost at a standstill, with passenger jeeps and buses trying to outmaneuver each other. The long wait prompted many commuters to get down and walk. Several streets remained flooded in Pasay City, prompting jeep drivers to take side streets, including going against the flow in one-way streets, instead of their usual routes. Policemen were noticeably absent from main streets in several cities in Metro Manila. Only a few traffic aides were seen trying to maintain order in traffic. In Makati City, dzRH radio reported that the flood at the stretch of Pasong Tamo near La Paz village was waist-deep and not passable to vehicles. Pagasa classifies weather conditions as follows: • Tropical Depression, maximum winds between 35 KPH and 64 KPH near the center • Tropical Storm, maximum winds between 65 KPH and 118 KPH near the center • Typhoon, maximum winds between 119 to 200 KPH near the center • Supertyphoon, maximum winds greater than 200 KPH - GMANews.TV