Signal No. 4 up in Batanes as Leon heads toward Taiwan —PAGASA

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 is hoisted over Batanes as Super Typhoon Leon started to move away from the province on Thursday morning, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

In its 8 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said that TCWS No. 3 is raised over the northern portion of Babuyan Islands.

The following areas in Luzon, meanwhile, are under TCWS No. 2:

• the rest of Babuyan Islands
• the northern portion of mainland Cagayan (Camalaniugan, Lal-Lo, Pamplona, Gonzaga, Santa Teresita, Baggao, Buguey, Claveria, Gattaran, Lasam, Aparri, Ballesteros, Abulug, Allacapan, Sanchez-Mira, Santa Praxedes, Santa Ana)
• the northern portion of Apayao (Pudtol, Luna, Santa Marcela, Calanasan, Flora)
• the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Sarrat, Piddig, Bangui, Vintar, Burgos, Pagudpud, Bacarra, Adams, Pasuquin, Carasi, San Nicolas, Dumalneg, Laoag City) 

Meanwhile, TCWS No. 1 is up over the following Luzon areas:

• the rest of Cagayan
• Isabela
• the rest of Apayao
• Abra
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• the northern portion of Benguet (Mankayan, Bakun, Buguias)
• the rest of Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur

PAGASA said the center of Leon was located 110 kilometers north northeast of Itbayat, Batanes and moving northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour (kph).

Leon was packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 240 kph.

“LEON is now moving away from Batanes and heading towards Taiwan. This super typhoon has reached its peak intensity while passing close to Batanes,” PAGASA said.

According to PAGASA, Leon is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Thursday night or early Friday morning. 

'Maiiyak ka sa takot'

Interviewed on Dobol B TV on Thursday, Batanes Governor Marilou Cayco said they felt the worst effects of Leon on Wednesday evening.

“Ramdam ko na talagang dinaanan kami ng gilid ng Super Typhoon Leon...Maiiyak ka sa takot. Ang hawak ko na lang kagabi ay crucifix sa takot ko. Natakot ako doon sa ibang bagyo pero ito natakot ako dahil malakas po talaga ang bugso ng hangin at wala talaga makakalabas na,” she said.

(I really felt the effects of Typhoon Leon really... You would cry in fear. I was holding a crucifix last night because I was scared. I was afraid of other storms, but this one really scared me because the wind was really strong and no one could really get out.)

Although strong winds and huge waves battered the province, Cayco said Leon brought less rainfall compared to Tropical Cyclone Julian.

“Kagabi po, ang sobrang lakas ng hangin. Magdamag po kaming hindi makatulog dahil sa hangin. Ikumpara mo siya sa Typhoon Julian, ang Typhoon Julian malakas po ang hangin, malakas pa ang ulan kaya nagkaroon po kami ng flooding,” she said.

(The wind was very strong last night. We couldn't sleep all night because of the wind. Compared to Typhoon Julian, Typhoon Julian’s winds were already strong and the rainfall was also heavy so we had flooding.)

“Talagang napakalalaki po ng alon dito sa Batanes simula pa kahapon. Hindi ko talaga, makuha kung gaano kataas yun. Kumpara mo naman sa Typhoon Julian, mas maliit naman ang alon ng Typhoon Julian,” she added.

(The waves have been really big here in Batanes since yesterday. I really cannot tell how big it is but compared to Typhoon Julian, the waves during Julian’s onslaught were smaller.)

Cayco said authorities have yet to check the damage on the ground as the province is still under TCWS No. 4. But so far, she said no casualties have been reported.

NDRRMC report

Leon, which followed Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, prompted several local government units to suspend classes for the day.

Based on the 8 a.m. report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Thursday, 150 people have been reported killed due to the combined effects of Kristine and Leon.

The NDRRMC also said that 29 people were reported missing and 115 were reported injured.

Storms and typhoons are common around the region at this time of year. However, a recent study showed that they are increasingly forming closer to coastlines, intensifying more rapidly and lasting longer over land due to climate change.

About 20 big storms and typhoons hit the Philippines or its surrounding waters each year, damaging homes and infrastructure and killing dozens of people. —KBK, GMA Integrated News