Olongapo Braces for Typhoon Karen
Packing maximum winds of up to 150 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 210 kph, Typhoon Karen (international name Sarika) has intensified further, prompting authorities to enhance preparations to minimize damage to both lives and property.
In Olongapo, Mayor Rolen C. Paulino convened the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) as early as Friday in anticipation of possible damages the city may incur from the Typhoon.
“We had the Bgy. Officials and Eng’g Dept. check on drainages and structures, the Social Welfare ready for relief distribution, and other agencies, including the City Health Dept., Hospital, as well as the Police on alert for any emergency,” Paulino told Subic Bay News.
He said,”in situations like this, it is best to be pro-active, rather than reactive.”
Karen is expected to hit land fall in Aurora Province within hours early this morning (Sunday), according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the state weather bureau.
As of 11 pm on Saturday night, October 15 Karen was estimated to be 120 kilometers east northeast of Infanta, Quezon, moving at 22 kph towards the west northwest of Luzon, where heavily populated areas of Central Luzon are.
Signal number 3 has been raised in Pangasinan, Northern Zambales, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Northern Quezon (including Polillo Island), La Union, Quirino, Benguet and Nueva Vizcaya.
The rest of Luzon, including Olongapo City and Southern Zambales is on Signal number 2, along with Ilocos Sur, Southern Isabela, Mt. Province, Ifugao, rest of Quezon, Camarines Norte, Pampanga, Bulacan, Bataan, Rizal and Metro Manila.
Under signal number 1 are Oriental Mindoro, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Kalinga, rest of Isabela, southern Apayao, southern Cagayan, Camarines Sur, Marinduque, Burias Island and Albay.
Storm surges could reach up to 2.6 meters high in coastal areas of places under signal numbers 2 and 3, with possible floods and landslides in all areas under warning signals, PAGASA has warned.
All other areas within the 500-km radius of the typhoon will have moderate to heavy rains.
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