Being the typhoon target that our
country is, Philippine government agencies, particularly the national weather
forecaster PAGASA, tend to have a routine down the moment the annual typhoon
season begins. One of these constants is that the first weather disturbance to
form and make its way into the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) will be
given quite the spotlight no matter how intense it may be or otherwise. This is
the treatment being given to Tropical Depression Auring, the first of the
season for 2021. Tracked as travelling southwesterly last week, it has made landfall
in the Visayas, but not before flooding parts of Mindanao.
CNN Philippines reports that Tropical Depression Auring
(international name “Dujuan”) made landfall this Monday, February 22, at
Northern Samar province over Batag Island. This was reported as happening 9:30
AM by Loriedin de la Cruz, weather forecaster for the Philippine Atmospheric
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). From here,
Auring has been tracked to be heading north by northwestward at 15 km/h towards
Albay and Sorsogon provinces in the Bicol region, with its location after 11 AM
being 30 km northeast of Catarman, Northern Samar. Its maximum sustained winds
are measured at 45 km/h, with a gustiness of 55 km/h.
Before its landfall today
however, the close proximity of TD Auring at Surigao Del Sur in Mindanao’s
Caraga region has resulted in some heavy rains and expected flooding yesterday,
February 21. The capital, Tandag City, saw several neighborhoods getting
flooded, trapping residents and necessitating the local government to request
assistance from the Philippine Coast Guard in order to help evacuate the
stranded. The Caraga regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) recorded about 3,858 households throughout Region XIII have
been affected by Auring. They have already donated P179,000 worth of material
assistance throughout the Caraga LGUs since this Saturday, February 20.
At present, the following areas
in the country are under Storm Signal No. 1 on account of Auring. In the
Visayas, the provinces of Biliran, Samar, Northern Samar and Eastern Samar are
affected. In Luzon, the aforementioned Sorsogon and Albay are joined in Signal
No. 1 by fellow Bicol provinces of Catanduanes, Masbate (including Ticao and
Burias Islands), and eastern Camarines Sur. PAGASA however notes that Auring
has been weakening from its landfall, with the possibility that in the next 24
hours it could further degrade into a low-pressure area.
Image courtesy of Rappler
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