Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon has ordered the preemptive and forced evacuation of families in barangays, if necessary, due to super typhoon “Karding” (international name: “Noru”).
In its 8 a.m. weather update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) placed the northern portion of Metro Manila (Pasig, Marikina, Quezon City, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Manila, Navotas, Malabon, Caloocan, Valenzuela) under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3, while the remaining areas in Metro Manila including Muntinlupa are under TCWS No. 2.
“You are hereby directed to conduct pre-emptive evacuation and/or forced evacuation within your AOR particularly in coastal areas, low-lying areas, and areas identified as flood-prone and landslide prone areas, if necessary,” Biazon said in a letter issued on Sept. 24 to the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (LDRRMC) and Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management. Committee.
In addition, Biazon put the Muntinlupa Emergency Operations Center under blue alert starting on Sept. 24.
“All concerned response agencies are hereby requested to submit their respective available resources and preparedness actions on or before September 25, 2022. Moreover, further request to stand-by readiness in preparation for a full-scale response operation, heightened monitoring will be implemented,” he said.
According to PAGASA, “‘Karding’ reached super typhoon category at 5:00 AM today after a period of explosive intensification of 90 km/h in 24 hours. It is forecast to continue intensifying and may make landfall at or near a peak intensity of 185-205 km/h. Frictional effects during landfall and traverse of the Luzon landmass will weaken Karding throughout the evening through tomorrow early morning, although it is highly likely that this tropical cyclone will remain a typhoon while crossing the landmass.”
As of 7 a.m. on Sept. 25, PAGASA said, “The center of the eye of Super Typhoon ‘Karding’ was estimated based on all available data including those from Daet and Baler Doppler Weather Radars at 230 km East of Infanta, Quezon (15.0°N, 123.8°E).”
“Maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 230 km/h, and central pressure of 925 hPa,” it added.
“On the forecast track, ‘Karding’ will likely make landfall in the vicinity of the northern portion of Quezon or the southern portion of Aurora tonight. The possibility of an earlier (afternoon) landfall or close approach in the vicinity of Polillo Islands is not ruled out,” PAGASA said.
It added, “For the remainder of this evening post-landfall through tomorrow early morning, KARDING will traverse the landmass of Central Luzon and emerge over the West Philippine Sea via the coastal waters of Zambales or Pangasinan. The typhoon will then continue tracking generally westward over the West Philippine Sea for the remainder of the forecast period.”