3 reported dead in Bicol due to Kristine — police

Three people were reported dead in Bicol Region due to the impact of Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami), according to the Police Regional Office 5 (PRO5) on Wednesday.

Bicol regional police chief Police Brigadier General Andre Perez Dizon told reporters about the development, adding that one person was missing and six others were injured as of 6 a.m.

In a situation briefing with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday morning, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported that one person was reported dead in Palanas, Masbate after getting hit by a falling tree branch.

According to OCD data, seven people were reported missing, including three in San Fernando, Masbate who went fishing; three in Daanbantayan, Cebu; and one in Pilar, Cebu.

Five people were injured including four in Northern Samar, and one in Labo, Camarines Norte who figured in a vehicular accident, the OCD said.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), meanwhile, reported fewer figures with only three people missing in Bicol.

In its 8 a.m. report, the NDRRMC also said one person was reported injured in the region.

A total of 382,302 individuals or 77,910 families have been affected by Kristine in Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula, the NDRRMC said.

Of the affected population, 12,334 people or 3,095 families were staying in evacuation centers while 364 people or 96 families were taking shelter in other places.

The NDRRMC said floods, landslides, a vehicular accident, and an uprooted tree were reported in the affected regions.

Seaport ops suspended

Fifty-seven houses were damaged, 49 partially and eight totally. One structure was also damaged.

Power outages were experienced in 36 areas and communication line issues were reported in one area.

Operations in 34 seaports in CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas were suspended due to Kristine. As a result, a total of 4,753 passengers, 703 rolling cargoes, 26 vessels, and 13 motorized bancas were stranded.

Classes in 602 areas and work schedules in 164 areas have been suspended due to the threat of Kristine, according to the NDRRMC report.

So far, a total of P169,685 worth of assistance has been provided to victims.

'Worst yet to come'

The Philippines suspended government work and shut schools as Tropical Storm Kristine barreled towards the country's eastern coast, with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday ordering responders to prepare ahead of its landfall.

Marcos ordered government agencies to closely monitor the volume of rainfall in the coming days, preposition government resources and anticipate people's needs.

"The worst is yet to come, I'm afraid. Let's all prepare," Marcos told a situation briefing.

"The volumes of water are unprecedented. We should closely monitor that," he said.

Ahead of the storm's landfall, Kristine dumped heavy rains in the Bicol on Tuesday, forcing residents to flee their homes as floodwaters reached as high as the roofs of bungalow houses. Rivers overflowed and triggered flash floods, a disaster official said.

"We got almost two months' worth of rainfall in just 24 hours," Albay provincial disaster chief Cedric Daep said by phone.

Stock trading suspended

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Wednesday suspended currency trading and monetary operations for the day. Stock market trading operated as normal.

Agencies involved in disaster response and vital services remained open, the Office of the President said.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 has been raised over 31 areas in Luzon as Tropical Storm Kristine maintained its strength and accelerated heading to the Isabela area, state weather bureau PAGASA said Wednesday.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the following areas are under TCWS No. 2:

• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• Apayao
• Abra
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
• Isabela
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Aurora
• Nueva Ecija
• Bulacan
• Tarlac
• Pampanga
• Zambales
• Bataan
• Metro Manila
• Cavite
• Laguna
• Rizal
• Quezon including Polillo Islands
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes
• Albay
• The northeastern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz, City of Sorsogon)

Meanwhile, TCWS No. 1 is hoisted in the following areas in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao:

Luzon

• Batanes
• Batangas
• Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands
• Oriental Mindoro
• Marinduque
• Romblon
• Calamian Islands
• the rest of Sorsogon
• Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands

Visayas

• Aklan
• Capiz
• Antique including Caluya Islands
• Iloilo
• Guimaras
• The northern portion of Negros Occidental (Pontevedra, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Bago City, La Carlota City, Valladolid, Pulupandan, Bacolod City, San Enrique, Murcia, Silay City, City of Talisay, Enrique B. Magalona, Manapla, City of Victorias, Cadiz City, Sagay City, City of Escalante, Toboso, Calatrava, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City)
• The northern portion of Negros Oriental (Vallehermoso, Canlaon City, City of Guihulngan)
• The northern and central portions of Cebu (Alcantara, Argao, Dumanjug, Sibonga, Pinamungahan, Ronda, Liloan, Cebu City, Moalboal, Consolacion, Danao City, Borbon, Carmen, Daanbantayan, Tuburan, City of Bogo, Tabogon, City of Naga, Lapu-Lapu City, City of Carcar, Mandaue City, Catmon, Minglanilla, Toledo City, Cordova, Compostela, San Remigio, Balamban, Aloguinsan, San Fernando, Asturias, Barili, Medellin, Sogod, Tabuelan, City of Talisay) including Bantayan Islands and Camotes Islands
• Bohol
• Eastern Samar
• Northern Samar
• Samar
• Leyte
• Biliran
• Southern Leyte

Mindanao

• Dinagat Islands
• Surigao del Norte including Siargao — Bucas Grande Group

Kristine was located 200 kms. east of Casiguran, Aurora packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph.

The tropical storm was moving north northwestward at 30 kph.

Kristine is expected to make landfall over Isabela on Wednesday evening, according to the NDRRMC.

"It is forecast to make landfall over Isabela tonight. It will then cross the mountainous terrain of Northern Luzon and emerge over the waters west of Ilocos Region tomorrow morning," PAGASA said.

"KRISTINE may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) region on Friday (25 October)," it added.

PAGASA said Kristine may intensify into a severe tropical storm before making a landfall on Wednesday evening but it may slightly weaken while crossing Northern Luzon.

"Re-intensification may occur over the West Philippine Sea," PAGASA said. — with a report from Reuters/ VDV, GMA Integrated News