Tropical Depression Kristine maintains its strength while lingering over the Philippine Sea, according to the state weather agency, which raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over 15 areas as of mid-day Monday, October 21, 2024. | Photo from DOST-PAGASA
MANILA, Philippines – The Bicol region was placed on red alert status (Charlie’ protocol) on Monday by the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) due to Tropical Depression (TD) Kristine, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said.
“The Charlie protocol signifies the highest state of emergency preparedness, necessitating immediate action from both the RDRRMC and Local DRRMCs to protect communities and ensure an effective and timely response,” the OCD said in a statement.
“The response clusters of the RDRRMC have been activated, including the Health Cluster, Food and Non-Food Items, Camp Coordination and Management, Emergency Telecommunications, Law and Order, Logistics, Search, Rescue, and Retrieval, Debris Clearing, Strategic Communication, Early Recovery, and Management of the Dead and the Missing,” OCD added.
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The OCD said that it also directed regional offices to heighten preparedness as TD Kristine is expected to bring moderate to heavy rain to Bicol, Samar, and other areas starting Tuesday.
OCD Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno also urged communities “to make the necessary preparations for Kristine.”
Tropical Depression Kristine
Kristine entered the Philippine area of responsibility early Monday morning and is expected to make a landfall in Northern Luzon on Friday, October 25.
It was also forecast “to intensify into a tropical storm in the next 12 hours” and may intensify into a typhoon category by Thursday or Friday.
Pagasa raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over the following areas:
Luzon
- Catanduanes
- Masbate, including Ticao Island and Burias Island
- Camarines Sur
- Albay
- Sorsogon
- Camarines Norte
- Eastern portion of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Buenavista, San Narciso, San Andres)
Visayas
- Eastern Samar
- Northern Samar
- Samar
- Leyte
- Biliran
- Southern Leyte
Mindanao
- Dinagat Islands
- Surigao del Norte, including Siargao-Bucas Grande Group