Caraga DRRMC alerts public as tropical storm “Butchoy” nears Phl

By Robert E. Roperos

Thursday 14th of June 2012

BUTUAN CITY, June 14 (PIA) -- Caraga Region’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) through the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has warned the public to be alert as tropical storm “Butchoy” (International Name: GUCHOL) is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this evening.

Mr. Amado Posas, OCD-Caraga Chief Operations Officer, said their office has already disseminated public advisory for them to be alert in case of emergency. Posas also said advisories were disseminated to the respective local government units for them to prepare their local DRRMC.

The official stressed that members of the regional DRRMC were also alerted on this matter. He further assured that RDRRMC knows what to do in case of emergency situations.

In a related development, Eugene Boco of the Butuan Search and Recue Team (BuSaRT) assured the public that they are at all times ready especially in situations where they are needed to respond to emergency cases.

To date, majority of the part of the region is partly cloudy. Last night, however, strong winds blew in some areas here, where according to the local Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), that was brought about by the said tropical storm as it gets near the country’s area of responsibility.

Meanwhile, according to PAGASA Central Office, the tropical storm was estimated 1,110 kilometers East of Northern Mindanao (10.5°N, 136.5°E) with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometer per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kilometers per hour. It is moving West Northwest at 20 kilometers per hour.

The country’s weather bureau also reported that Luzon will experience occasional rains becoming frequent over the western section which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The western section of Visayas and of Mindanao will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Further, PAGASA reported that moderate to strong winds blowing from the Southwest will prevail over the whole archipelago with moderate to rough seas.(RER/PIA 13-Caraga)