PH orders evacuations, puts troops on standby for Marce

The Philippines has ordered evacuations, stockpiled food and put soldiers on standby in preparation for Typhoon Marce (international codename: Yinxing), officials said on Tuesday, as the tropical cyclone barrels towards northeastern towns where it could make landfall this week.

The center of the typhoon, packing winds of 120 kph (75 mph) was estimated to be 590 km (367 miles) from the eastern town of Baler in the province of Aurora, state weather agency PAGASA said.

The local government ministry had called for those in remote communities to evacuate in advance, as rescuers could prove unable to reach them during the onslaught of the typhoon, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said.

"Various government agencies have combined efforts to issue early warnings, plan ahead and pre-position the goods and services needed," Teodoro told a briefing.

Food is being stockpiled, soldiers are on standby to help in rescue efforts, and dams are releasing water ahead of time to prevent flooding, officials added.

Marce could hit land between Thursday evening and Friday morning around the northern province of Cagayan, bringing torrential rain to towns in its path, said weather agency official Nathaniel Servando, though it could still swerve away.

About 24 million people could be directly affected by the typhoon, said civil defense administrator Ariel Nepomuceno.

Marce is the third in less than a month to menace the Philippines, after Storm Kristine (Trami) and Super Typhoon Leon (Kong-rey) pound the main island of Luzon in recent weeks, killing 151, with 21 missing, civil defense figures show.

"We have learned a lot. That's why our processes have been adjusted," Teodoro added.

Around 20 tropical cyclones strike the Philippines each year on average, bringing heavy rains, strong winds, and deadly landslides. — Reuters