MANILA (Updated, 7:12 a.m.) -- Thirty-six areas are now placed under storm warning signals as Typhoon Yolanda has intensified further after it entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) Wednesday midnight, the state weather agency reported.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Typhoon Yolanda (international codename: Haiyan) continues to move west nortwest at 30 kilometers per hour (kph) towards Eastern Visayas, with maximum sustained winds of 215 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 250 kph.
As of 6:00 a.m. Thursday, Pagasa located Yolanda at 767 kilometers (km) east of Hinatuan, Surigao Del Sur.
Pagasa has hoisted public storm warning signal number 2 over Eastern Samar, Samar, Southern Leyte, Surigao Del Norte, Siargao Island, Dinagat Island, northern part of Surigao Del Sur, and northern part of Agusan Del Norte. Winds of 60 to 100 kph may be expected in at least 24 hours in these areas.
Placed under signal number 1 are Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon Ticao Island, Burias Island, Masbate, Romblon, Marinduque, Southern Quezon, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Antique, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Cebu, Camotes Island, Bohol, Siquijor, Leyte, Biliran Island, Northern Samar, Camaguin, Misamis Oriental, and Agusan del Sur.
Pagasa said areas placed under signal number 1 will experience 30-60 kph winds in at least 36 hours.
Estimated rainfall amount is from 10.0 - 30.0 mm per hour (heavy - intense) within the 600 km diameter of the typhoon. Meanwhile, according to NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission data, "(R)ain was falling at a rate of over 100 millimeters per hour (mm/hr0 (~3.9 inches)" within the cyclone's eye.
President Benigno Aquino III has ordered concerned government agencies to ensure that preventive measures were in place to avoid human casualties and minimize damage to property as Haiyan is expected to enter the country early Thursday, a Palace official said Wednesday.
According to the NDRRMC advisory, several areas throughout the country including Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas regions, as well as Caraga and Northern Mindanao were placed under red alert due to the typhoon.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reminded the public that during public Storm warning signal number 1, all maritime vessels of any volume are not allowed to sail while all kind of shipping vessels are prohibited to travel or left the port terminal.
He also reminded the fisherfolks to suspend their fishing ventures to some other time until the typhoon exits the country by Sunday.
In the Visayas, the PCG directed all coast guard stations and sub-stations to give regular advisories, particularly to operators of fishing boats and motorized bancas, during the coming typhoon. (Sunnex)