Heavy rains pummel Bicol, Eastern Visayas

Typhoon ‘Bising’ keeps strength; Magat Dam to release water today

- ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ

Typhoon Bising (international name Surigae), which maintained its strength while moving slowly over the Philippine Sea on Monday, April 19, may continue to bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains in Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Masbate, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran and the northern portion of Leyte Monday.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Bising remains a strong typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 240 kph.

Moving slowly north-northwest, the center of the eye of typhoon Bising was located at 235 kilometers (km) east-northeast of Virac, Catanduanes or 360 km east of Daet, Camarines Norte at around 10 a.m.

By Tuesday, April 20, moderate to heavy rains will persist over Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Masbate, and Northern Samar.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains may also prevail over the northern portion of Aurora and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan and Isabela by Tuesday.

“Under these conditions and considering the antecedent rainfall over the aforementioned areas, flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides are increasingly likely to occur especially in areas identified in hazard maps as highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards,” PAGASA warned.

Over 68,000 displaced