Typhoon Hagupit May Hit Over 40 Provinces

12/3/2014 | 9:42 0 Posted in Environment

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), is now on red alert while anticipating the entry of Hagupit in Philippine Area of Responsibility.

PAGASA on Wednesday said the typhoon is moving 30km/hr West North West but it still sustaining strong winds of 140 to 150 km/hr, with gustiness of up to 195 km/hr.

Hagupit is actually an international name given to this cyclone, while Philippines names it “Ruby”.

Hagupit, though, is a Philippine term, and one of five terms the Philippines contributed to the list of international names for tropical cyclones adopted by the UN Economic and Social Survey for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the World Meteorological Organization Typhoon Committee.

Ruby covers more than 700 kilometers in diameter and there’s only 25% chance that it could change direction North without hitting the Philippines. The chance that it would hit Eastern Visayas is 75%. Eastern Visayas is the same spot badly hit by Yolanda more than 1 year ago.

PAGASA has released the list of around 50 provinces that could be affected mostly in Visayas.

USEC Alexander Pama, Executive Director of NDRRMC said the challenge is on evacuating people from areas to be affected. He said that it will be difficult to convince people because their livelihood is on the line if they are not going to work for 2 days while in preparing for the arrival of typhoon.

Hagupit is also expected to carry heavy rainfall especially in Metro Manila and other areas not directly affected by its strong winds.

NDRRMC is telling everyone to prepare and be ready regardless of the strength of typhoon. Hagupit is expected to enter PAR on Friday.

Reference:
PAGASA