Albay Public Safety Emergency and Management Office (APSEMO) chief Dr. Cedric Daep (Photo from APSEMO's official Facebook page)
LEGAZPI CITY – As Typhoon Ambo approaches Bicol, the Albay Public Safety Emergency and Management Office (APSEMO) on Tuesday asked local government units to expedite the transfer of their residents to safer ground, urging local disaster councils to complete the mass evacuation by noon.
APSEMO chief Cedric Daep said some 80,000 families or 400,000 individuals living in low-lying, coastal and mountainous areas prone to flooding, landslide and storm surge are expected to be moved out to safer grounds.
Local disaster councils were advised to strictly follow evacuation and health protocols while initiating mass evacuation.
Daep said the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) would be adopting a new approach in ensuring the safety of Albayanos during the typhoon due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) health crisis.
Under the new approach, the protocols include wearing of face mask and maintaining physical distancing in evacuation centers.
Families that need to be evacuated are advised to stay with relatives with sturdy homes, if possible, as evacuation centers will have to accommodate a limited number of people.
Families with elderly and children aged 19 and below will be placed in a separate room.
Evacuees with health issues will be placed in a designated isolation room to curb possible disease contamination in all evacuation centers.
According to the local weather bureau's 8 a.m. bulletin, Typhoon Ambo (international name Vongfong) has further intensified and threatening the Eastern Samar-Northern Samar areas.
Storm Signal No. 3 is hoisted in Sorsogon and the eastern section of Albay (Legazpi City, Manito, Daraga, Camalig, Jovellar, Santo Domingo, Rapu-rapu) and Ticao Island, while Signal No. 2 is hoisted over Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, the rest of Albay, Burias island and the northern portion of mainland Masbate.
Ambo is moving westward at 15 kilometers per hour (kph) with packing winds of up to 155 kph and gustiness of up to 190 kph. It is expected to hit Bicol between Thursday night and Friday morning. (PNA)
