PH braces for extremely dangerous 'Uwan'

‘Tino’ death toll climbs to 188; 135 still missing

- By MARTIN SADONGDONG, BETHEENA UNITE, JEL SANTOS, and ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ

As the nation continues to reel from the devastation left by Typhoon Tino which claimed the lives of at least 188 people as of Friday, Nov. 7, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has begun shifting its focus to brace for the impact of another powerful storm, the potential super typhoon "Uwan," which is expected to bring heavy rains and strong winds this weekend.

OCD Administrator Undersecretary Harold Cabreros said the government remains on full alert as Uwan (international name: Severe Tropical Storm Fung-wong) threatens Northern and Central Luzon, with possible effects extending to Metro Manila, Southern Luzon, and other regions.

"Starting Saturday (November 8) and Sunday (November 9), the country will begin to experience bad weather brought by Typhoon Uwan. It is expected to pass through Northern and Central Luzon but because of its wide reach of over a thousand kilometers, Metro Manila, Southern Luzon, and other regions should also prepare," Cabreros said.

Severe Tropical Storm Fungwong is estimated based on all available data at 1,315 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas, outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility or PAR, as of Friday. It will be named "Uwan" when it enters PAR on Nov. 8 or 9.

It has maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, gustiness of up to 125 kph, and central pressure of 980 hPa (hectopascal).

Cabreros said the OCD will continue to intensify its preparations for the incoming typhoon even as they sustain ongoing response operations for Filipinos affected by Tino.

"Government agencies will keep working together to address the needs of affected communities. We are calling on everyone to stay informed about where, when, and how strong the winds and rains from Typhoon Uwan will be," he said.