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The Philippines evacuated coastal areas and put emergency workers on alert yesterday as a storm expected to grow into a super typhoon headed towards central islands still recovering from a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit last month.
Typhoon Haiyan, with gusts of up to 185kph, was moving over the sea at 30kph and may make landfall at mid-day tomorrow in the central islands of Samar and Leyte, said Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo.
“We are advising the people to secure their homes because we are expecting a powerful typhoon, a super typhoon,” Montejo said.
“It’s still in the Pacific but it has gained speed and may enter our area of responsibility by tomorrow (Thursday).”
Officials in the central Cebu, Bohol and Albay areas have closed schools, prepared emergency shelters and food and put emergency workers on alert.
“We’re aiming for zero casualties so we sent advisories to local disaster agencies to start evacuating people from coastal and low-lying areas as well as those in landslide-prone areas,” said Flor Gaviola, a regional disaster official.
Thousands of people on Bohol island are still in shelters after their homes were destroyed in an Oct 15 earthquake that killed more than 200 people.
About 20 typhoons hit the Philippines every year.
Typhoon Bopha, the strongest storm to hit last year, flattened three coastal towns on the southern island of Mindanao, killing 1,100 people, and destroyed crops, property and infrastructure worth $1.04bn.
Meanwhile, Malacanang has assured that the government has taken adequate preparations for the approaching super typhoon.
The storm, which has the international name Haiyan, will be called Yolanda once it enters the Philippine area of responsibility. State weather forecasters said it will cut through Visayas tomorrow before exiting through Mindoro on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters, Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said President Benigno Aquino has alerted all concerned government agencies to prepare for the super typhoon.
The president has ordered Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, head of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), to ensure zero casualty and to minimise damage to property that the typhoon may bring.
The disaster units were advised to carry out the pre-emptive evacuation of residents and local governments, to prepare shelters and to arrange relief goods, Coloma said.
Areas expected to be hit by Yolanda are Metro Manila and the regions of Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Caraga and Northern Mindanao.
“Rescue boats, emergency relief and medical supplies have been prepositioned in strategic areas,” he said. “All concerned government agencies are on heightened alert to ensure swift response to affected residents, especially those in low-lying and flood prone areas,” Coloma said.
He appealed to print and broadcast media to help spread information on the typhoon.