Crising exits PAR, leaves 2 missing

Two persons were reported missing yesterday while thousands of families sought refuge in evacuation centers as Severe Tropical Storm Crising and the southwest monsoon brought heavy rainfall in various parts of the country.

- MICHAEL PUNONGBAYAN, GHIO ONG, Artemio Dumlao, Jun Elias, Emmanuel Tupas, Bella Cariaso, Rudy Santos, Gilbert Bayoran

Crising (international name Wipha) was upgraded to a severe tropical storm from the previous tropical storm category while at a distance of 175 kilometers west northwest of Calayan Island in Cagayan province at 8 a.m. yesterday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA.

Two hours after its intensification, Crising exited the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) at 10 a.m., the state weather agency said in another bulletin.

Crising was located 335 kilometers west of Itbayat in Batanes, according to PAGASA's projections at 3 p.m. yesterday, carrying maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour and gusty winds of up to 125 kph, moving west northwest at 20 kph.

Initial reports of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) showed that as of yesterday, 37,598 families or 96,791 persons have been affected by rains and flooding mostly in Region 6. Of the number, 3,556 families or 11,689 persons are seeking temporary shelter in 155 different evacuation centers.

Apart from Western Visayas, the most affected areas include the Ilocos Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen and the Negros Island Region.

The NDRRMC estimated damage to infrastructure alone in Ilocos Region at P11.5 million, while figures on agriculture losses are yet to be released.

Rains to persist

Despite leaving PAR, Crising and the enhanced monsoon will continue bringing inclement weather in most parts of the country, according to PAGASA's 24-hour forecast issued at 4 p.m. yesterday.

The provinces of Zambales, Bataan and Occidental Mindoro will experience monsoon rains, while occasional rains are projected to soak the regions of Metro Manila, Ilocos, Calabarzon, Bicol and Western Visayas and the provinces of Abra, Benguet, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Tarlac, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan and Negros Occidental.