Typhoon Nona weakens; Classes suspended in N.Cebu

Classes were suspended yesterday in eight northern Cebu towns and the city of Bogo due to typhoon Nona, which is expected to weaken on Thursday and exit the country this weekend.

There were no early reports of damage as of last night.

Light to moderate rains were forecast in Cebu City with heavy rains in northern Cebu.

“It takes until the weekend for the typhoon to exit the Philippines to land interaction and cold air from Northeast monsoon (Amihan),” said Oscar Tabada, chief meteorologist for Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services (Pagasa) Visayas.

Northern Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes islands were placed under public storm warning signal number one yesterday morning.

The storm had its first landfall in Northern Samar and its second in Sta. Magdalena, Sorsogon.

Tabada said that in Central Visayas, wave height would be less than one meter.

Local governments in Cebu city and other localities convened their disaster councils to monitor the situation and get ready to respond to emergencies.

The Cebu Coast Guard barred the sea voyages of 33 vessels and 16 rolling cargo ships as of Monday noon.

Affected were trips to the Hagnaya-Sta Fe Bantayan route, the Danao City-Camotes Island routes, the Toledo City-San Carlos City, Negros Occidental routes and from Cebu City to several areas in Southern Leyte, Leyte, Masbate, Negros Occidental and Manila, said Cebu Coast Guard Station Commander Agapito Bibat.

These areas were still placed under storm warning signals by the weather bureau.

Most of the stranded passengers in Cebu ports were for Manila. At least 363 passengers were stranded inside the MV St. Leo The Great of 2Go for Manila. Another 50 passengers were stranded in MV Mika Mari vessel in Danao City for Consuelo, San Francisco, Camotes Island.

Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez said the city coliseum is ready as a possible evacuation area while government workers prepared rice and food packs.

As of 2 p.m., there were rain showers and light wind in the city under a cloudy sky.

Daanbantayan Mayor Corro said he also disallowed boat trips to the tourist island of Malapascua while fishermen were strongly advised not to venture out to sea.

Classes were suspended in San Francisco, Pilar, Tudela, Poro, Daanbantayan, Bantayan, Medellin, San Remegio and Bogo City.

Provincial disaster chief Baltazar Tribunalo Jr. advised teachers to monitor rainfall.

“If teachers can see the rain is very strong, they can link quickly with the local government and have classes canceled,” he said.

Tribunalo said private contractors with heavy equipment can be tapped if needed as part of contingency plans./Correspondents, Nestle Semilla, Michelle Padayhag and Julit Jainar

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