Typhoon “Hanna” decelerated while moving westward over the Philippine Sea on Thursday, as Metro Manila and areas in Luzon stayed under flood waters after the second day of heavy rains owing to the influence of three storm systems on the southwest monsoon or “habagat.”
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Hanna is forecast to gradually intensify until late Saturday or early Sunday when it is expected to reach its peak intensity.
Hanna became a typhoon while still inside the Philippine area of responsibility, the state weather bureau said, but it is expected to remain far from the Philippine landmass.
In the agency’s 5 p.m. update, the center of Hanna was estimated at 710 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon. It was moving westward at 15 km/h, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 150 km/h.
The habagat is currently being enhanced by “Goring,” which is now outside the PAR, PAGASA said, while “Hanna” and tropical storm “Kirogi” (currently outside the PAR) continue to slightly enhance the southwest monsoon.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Friday said that one person was reported killed in Western Visayas during the onslaught of tropical cyclones Goring and Hanna.
Meanwhile, a state of calamity was declared in Pototan, Iloilo on Thursday, the NDRRMC said.
A total of 387,242 people or 106,677 families were affected by Goring and Hanna in Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
Of the affected population, 21,701 persons or 5,152 families were staying in 293 evacuation centers while 24,827 people or 6,092 families were taking shelter in other places.
A total of 482 houses were damaged — 371 partially and 111 destroyed–in Ilocos, Cagayan, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, and CAR.
Damage to agriculture worth P395.25 million and to infrastructure worth P41.22 million were also reported.
Power supply interruptions were being experienced in six areas in Region IV-A and Western Visayas, Water supply problems were also encountered in two areas in the same regions.
Because 71 seaports were still not operating, the NDRRMC said 234 passengers, five motorized bancas, and a vessel were stranded in Calabarzon and Western Visayas.
A total of 240 school classes and 94 work schedules were suspended because of the weather disturbance.
Assistance worth P16.5 million has been provided to the victims, the NDRRMC said.
The Manila International Airport Authority announced the cancellation of 23 international flights due to bad weather on Friday.
Twelve of those canceled were Philippine Airlines (PAL) flights to and from Hong Kong, Xiamen, and Jinjiang while Cebu Pacific Air suspended two flights, also going to and from Hong Kong.
Also canceled were AirAsia Philippines flights Z2 1264 and 1265 (Manila – Hong Kong – Manila) and five other Hong Kong flights of Cathay Pacific.
China Southern Airlines also canceled two flights going to and from Canton.
The Supreme Court ordered work in all courts in the National Capital Region suspended due to bad weather.
The suspension was also in line with the suspension of classes at all levels in public and private schools and work in government offices in the NCR on Sept. 1 as ordered by the Office of the President.
Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo suspended the work in all NCR courts from the SC to the lowest courts.
The filing of pleadings and documents required by NCR courts on Sept. 1 can be done online.
Also on Friday, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System said flooding in Hagonoy, Bulacan was caused by high tide and not water released from the Ipo Dam.
Patrick James Dizon, division manager, said Ipo Dam has been releasing 60 cubic meters of water per second since Thursday to relieve water pressure on the dam.
