Philippines - Tropical Cyclone MELOR

Tue, 15 Dec 2015 04:22:00 +01:00

MELOR continued moving west-northwest, crossing over Masbate and Romblon provinces. On 15 December at 3.00 UTC it made another landfall in the vicinity of Pinamalayan, in Oriental Mindoro province (Mimaropa region) as a very intense Typhoon. Approx. 2 hours prior to its landfall it had max. sustained wind speed of 231 km/h.
Over the next 24 h it is forecast to slightly strengthen while passing over Mindoro island and then gradually weaken while entering the west Philippine sea. GDACS estimates approx. 3.7 million people exposed to Typhoon force winds.
As of 15 December early morning (UTC), national authorities report over 730 000 pre-emptively evacuated in several provinces of Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions, over 50 domestic flights have been canceled and over 7 300 people have been stranded at sea ports. There have also been reports on power outages in several provinces and media report at least one person dead in Northern Samar province.
Public Storm Warning Signals of Levels 3 and 2 remain in effect for several provinces of the regions Mimaropa and Calabarzon, as of 15 December early morning (UTC). JRC calculations indicate a storm surge of the order of 1.2 m in the coastal area of Mamburao (Mindoro island) on 15 December morning (UTC).

Mon, 14 Dec 2015 03:11:00 +01:00

MELOR (locally named "NONA") continued moving west towards eastern Philippines as a strong Typhoon. On 14 December at 3.00 UTC it made landfall on the most northern tip of Northern Samar province. Approx. 3 hours due to landfall it had max. sustained wind speed of 204 km/h.
Over the next 24 h it is forecast to continue moving west crossing southern Luzon slightly weakening but remaining a Typhoon. It may reach Sorsogon province and Burias island on 14 December. GDACS estimates approx. 4 million people exposed to Typhoon force winds.
Over 720 000 people have been pre-emptively evacuated in the provinces of Albay, Sorsogon and Northern Samar, several domestic flights have been canceled and over 7 900 people were stranded at ports as of 14 December.
As of 14 December early morning (UTC), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has issued a Public Storm Warning Signal Level 3 for Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions and Level 2 for Calabarzon and northern Mimaropa regions. JRC estimates a storm surge of at least 1 meter in the landfall area as of 14 December.