Forced evacuation implemented in Polillo Islands due to Karding

The Quezon provincial government has ordered the forced evacuation of residents in coastal and landslide-prone areas in Polillo Islands.

Quezon Governor Helen Tan on Sunday said she has ordered municipal mayors on Saturday night to enforce evacuation due to Karding, which has intensified into a super typhoon.

As of 8 a.m. Sunday, municipal disaster officers were going around barangays to inform residents of the forced evacuation.

The order covers residents in Polillo, Burdeos, Panukulan, Patnanungan, and Jomalig which are all part of the Polillo Group of Islands.

"Based on the forecast, sa kanila 'yung hit [ng bagyo]," Tan said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

Karding has reached the super typhoon category on Sunday morning, with Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 hoisted over Polillo Islands, PAGASA said.

In its 8 a.m. bulletin, the state weather bureau said the center of the eye of Karding was last spotted 230 km east of Infanta, Quezon (15.0°N, 123.8°E).

It has maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 230 km/h, and central pressure of 925 hPa.

PAGASA said Karding’s present movement is westward at 20 km/h.

It also has strong to typhoon-force winds extending outwards up to 290 km from the center.

Tan said the Philippine Coast Guard in Northern Quezon has suspended boat trips but some fishermen were still insisting to go out to sea for their livelihood.

"I ordered municipal mayors to bring food especially sa bara-barangay especially the coastal barangays para di naman yung mga mangingisda na mapupwersa lumabas para sa kanilang day-to-day na pangangailangan," Tan said.

Evacuees will be brought to designated evacuation centers such as covered courts and barangay halls, but if these are not available, they will be brought to schools, the governor added.

As of Sunday morning, the coastal municipalities of Quezon have reported strong waves.

"Other parts okay naman. May panaka-nakang pag-ambon. 'Yung coastal municipalities, medyo malakas 'yung dagat. Basically wala pa 'yung malakas na ulan," Tan said.

The governor said power has gone out in Polillo Islands, so communication as of the moment is via radio.

PAGASA said moderate to heavy rains over Isabela, Polillo Islands, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Isabela are expected on Sunday morning through early afternoon.

It also said there is a high to very high risk of storm surge in the low-lying and exposed coastal areas of northern Quezon including Polillo Islands and the central and southern portions of Aurora.

PAGASA said it is likely that Karding will make landfall in the vicinity of the northern portion of Quezon or the southern portion of Aurora on Sunday night.

The possibility of an earlier landfall in Sunday afternoon or close approach in the vicinity of Polillo Islands is, however, not ruled out, the weather bureau added. —KG, GMA News