TYPHOON URSULA (international name: Phanfone) swept through the Eastern and Central Visayas regions over the Christmas holidays, leaving several towns flooded and houses damaged, and has maintained its strength while traversing the northern tip of Aklan and Antique provinces in Western Visayas, weather bureau PAGASA reported on Wednesday. Ursula, 21st typhoon to hit the country this year, was packing maximum winds of 140 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center and gustiness of up to 195 kp/h. Typhoon Ursula is “bringing very destructive winds and intense rainfall over Aklan, northern portion of Antique, and Romblon,” PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. Wednesday update. “The southern portion of Mindoro Provinces will be affected by the eyewall in the coming hours.

In case of the passage of the eye in some of the aforementioned areas, calm conditions will be experienced. However, as soon as the eye moves out of the area, violent conditions associated with the eyewall will resume,” the weather bureau said. By Thursday, the typhoon is expected to be 215 km west-northwest of Coron, Palawan. Typhoon signal numbers 1 to 3 was up in various parts of the Visayas, southern Luzon areas, Metro Manila, and Bataan province. Ursula is forecasted to remain within the Philippine area by Friday and be out by Saturday morning. — Genshen L. Espedido

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