NDRRMC on full alert with 2.4M families seen at typhoon’s path

THE OPERATIONS Center (OC) of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) was placed on red alert status on Monday as typhoon Rosita (international name: Yutu) was expected to make landfall in parts of Isabela and Aurora provinces on Tuesday morning, Oct. 30. “We are currently expecting the typhoon to make landfall somewhere in southern Isabela and northern Aurora tomorrow between 5 to 7 in the morning, and, as of now, the NDRRMC Operation Center is on red alert and therefore everybody, all the 44 member agencies, including the uniformed services are on standby,” NDRRMC Spokesperson Edgar L. Posadas said in a press briefing at the Palace. In another briefing, Mr. Posadas warned that “possible landslides may occur in the Cordillera Administrative Region even without acquiring the 100 millimeter average accumulated rainfall.” He added that “290 cities and municipalities are at risk,” and about “12.02 million individuals or 2.40 million families will be affected.” The official also cautioned those travelling for the Nov. 1 long weekend to “please wait for further announcement relevant to the resumption of sea trips.” — Arjay L. Balinbin