(UPDATED) As Super Typhoon “Karding” (international name: Noru) looks to unleash a barrage of rain and punishing winds when it meets land, at least three regions have been placed on red alert status which would mean the activation of the highest form of preparation to minimize casualties and damage.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Sunday, Sept. 25, released an advisory showing that Cagayan Valley (Region 2), Bicol (Region 5), and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) were already on red alert status.
Meanwhile, the Ilocos Region (Region 1) also issued a memorandum order which proposed to raise its status to red alert.
A red alert status means that duty personnel and alert teams must be on standby 24/7 to respond to any emergency or calamity.
Meanwhile, Western Visayas (Region 6) was placed on blue alert which means at least 50 percent of its disaster personnel must be on standby.
In Quezon Province, the provincial DRRMC initiated a pre-emptive evacuation in the towns of Polillo (20 barangays); Patnanungan (six barangays); Panukulan (13 barangays); Jomalig (five barangays); and Burdeos (13 barangays).
Pre-emptive evacuation were also ordered in Region 2 and Central Luzon (Region 3). The NDRRMC said 86 families or 300 individuals were evacuated in Region 3; and 11 families or 36 persons in Region 2.
There were 8,728 barangays that were susceptible to flooding, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau added.
In Region 3, rapid response teams were prepared and trained volunteers were readied for mobilization and deployment.
There were 111 tourists in Calaguas Island in Camarines Norte that were also stranded as tour operators and tourism staff were advised that travel by sea were already cancelled on Monday.
NDRRMC Chairman and Department of National Defense (DND) Officer in Charge Jose Faustino Jr. said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the Council to "ensure the functionality of lifelines, especially water and communications."
"The President is confident with the NDRRMC's preparedness. We should come out of this with flying colors and prove that NDRRMC can manage," the DND quoted Faustino as saying.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that 2,519 passengers, drivers, and cargo helpers; 39 rolling cargoes; 18 vessels; and 15 motorbancas were stranded while 71 vessels and 35 motorbancas took shelter in Southern Tagalog and Bicol regions as of 12 noon.
Super Typhoon Karding is expected to make landfall over the southern portion of Aurora or northern portion of Quezon on Sunday night, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).