LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council-Bicol is under red alert in preparation for tropical depression “Kristine” which is expected to make landfall as a typhoon in Northern Luzon this week.
Gremil Naz, spokesperson of the Office of the Civil Defense-Bicol, said the Emergency Operations Center of the RDRRMC-Bicol is on heightened alert effective 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 21.
Naz said regional response assets are on standby for possible deployment or augmentation to local government units (LGUs).
Classes on all levels in public and private schools are suspended in the province of Camarines Sur while the province of Albay implemented a localized suspension of classes.
Among the local government units that suspended classes on all levels in the province of Albay are Legazpi City and towns of Santo Domingo, Polangui, Daraga, Libon, Pio Duran, Camalig, and Guinobatan.
The Philippine Coast Guard suspended sea trips in the provinces of Catanduanes and Camarines Norte.
The PCG said that all vessels and watercraft, regardless of type and tonnage, plying within Catanduanes are barred from traveling. Vessels and watercraft with 250 gross tonnage and below within Camarines Norte are also suspended from sailing. Larger vessels were alerted against big waves.
Seaports in Catanduanes recorded 575 stranded passengers as of noon Monday.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration placed Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, and Masbate under tropical cyclone warning signal No. 1 as Kristine approaches.