By Tony Chavez
Civil Defense Administrator USEC. Ariel Nepomuceno has issued an urgent call for heightened preparedness as Tropical Depression Kristine is projected to impact approximately 30 million individuals across multiple regions. This significant increase from an earlier estimate of one million underscores the cyclone's potential to affect a vast population from Luzon to Mindanao.
"According to the latest forecast from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the number of potential victims has surged to 30 million. This is a considerable population at risk, and we need all hands on deck to mitigate the impacts of this disaster," stated USEC. Nepomuceno.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has reported that over 18,000 barangays are at risk of rain-induced landslides and floods, particularly in Central Visayas, Cordillera Administrative Region, Eastern Visayas, Ilocos Region, MIMAROPA, Northern Mindanao, SOCCSKSARGEN, Western Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula.
In Metro Manila, 1,403 barangays are also vulnerable to landslide and flood hazards due to Kristine, including areas in Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Pasay, Pateros, Las Piñas, Makati, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Taguig, Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Pasig, San Juan, and Manila.
Kristine, the Philippines' 11th tropical cyclone of 2024, entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this morning. According to the 11 AM bulletin from PAGASA, the tropical depression was located 870 km east of Eastern Visayas, moving west-southwest at 30 kilometers per hour, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 70 kph.
PAGASA has issued Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 in 15 areas nationwide due to the expected strong winds associated with Kristine. The storm is anticipated to continue generally westward until tomorrow before turning northwestward for the remainder of the week.
Forecasts indicate that Kristine may strengthen into a storm within the next 12 hours, potentially reaching severe tropical storm status by Wednesday and typhoon status by Thursday. Landfall is expected over the northeastern portion of Cagayan by Friday afternoon.
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