Storm Doksuri may trigger heavy rainfall in Philippine areas

Manila: Storm signal No 2 has been hoisted in at least nine areas in Northern Luzon as tropical storm Doksuri (local name: Dindo) continues its north-westerly track bringing 100 kilometre per hour winds.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), storm signal number 1 has been hoisted in Cagayan, Calayan Group of Islands, Babuyan Group of Islands, Isabela, Batanes Group of Islands, Apayao, Kalinga, Ilocos Norte, Abra and Mt Province.

Storm signal number 1 is being observed in the provinces of La Union, Ilocos Sur, Aurora, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and Benguet.

PAGASA has estimated that Doksuri may cause “heavy to intense” rainfall of 15 to 25 millimetre per hour within its 400 kilometre diameter.

Emergency services were placed on high alert Thursday morning.

“Interior Department Central Office Disaster Information Coordinating Centre has been directed to reactivate their respective disaster monitoring systems in anticipation of heavy rains in their areas brought about by tropical storm Dindo,” the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

The health department has also prepositions drugs and medicines in the area and placed response teams on standby.

Dr Carmencita Banatin, head of Health Emergency and Management System of the Department of Health was quoted by radio station dzMM as saying that they have been observing a “code white alert” upon receiving information that Doksuri was on its way to northern Philippines.

Doksuri has also affected at least four flights schedule to the area as well as sailings in Ilocos and Bicol regions.

The NDRRMC also initiated flood warning operations in the Magat River downstream area due to the weather disturbance.

Aside from directly affecting areas close to the path of the storm, Doksuri is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains over southern Luzon and Visayas.

The NDRRMC has posted landslide and flashflood warnings as well as possible storm surge over areas under signal No 2.

The storm is expected to exit the country on Saturday.

Doksuri is the fourth weather disturbance to hit the country this year. Annually, at least 20 storms and typhoons affect the Philippines placing it high in the list of nations severely affected by natural calamities.

Destructive typhoons often hit the country during the third quarter of the year.