PHILIPPINES-TYPHOON/AID Philippines prepares aid and relief goods as Typhoon Hagupit approaches

Record ID: 734992

  • Title: PHILIPPINES-TYPHOON/AID Philippines prepares aid and relief goods as Typhoon Hagupit approaches
  • Date: 6th December 2014
  • Summary: MANILA, PHILIPPINES (DECEMBER 6, 2014) (REUTERS) VOLUNTEERS PACKING RELIEF GOODS INSIDE WAREHOUSE VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEERS PACKING GOODS PACKS OF SUGAR CANNED GOODS IN BOXES VOLUNTEERS PACKING CANNED GOODS VOLUNTEERS ARRANGING RELIEF GOODS IN WHITE PLASTIC BAGS SOCIAL WORKERS PACKING RELIEF GOODS RELIEF GOODS INSIDE PLASTIC BAG (SOUNDBITE)(Filipino) DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICER THELSA BIOLENA SAYING: "Our quick response teams are already deployed in regions that are expected to be hit by the typhoon. Our personnel underwent training to ensure that they are able to handle the emergency situation in their designated areas." PHILIPPINE NAVY PERSONNEL PACKING RICE RICE RICE BEING POURED INTO PLASTIC BAGS VOLUNTEERS HELPING TO PACK RICE INTO BAGS NATIONAL DISASTER AGENCY SPOKESMAN ALEXANDER PAMA INSTRUCTING PERSONNEL (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATIONAL DISASTER AGENCY SPOKESMAN ALEXANDER PAMA SAYING: "Definitely it's threatening so we, as I've said over and over again, we leave, as much as possible we leave no stone unturned, so to speak. Of course the preparation is being undertaken, in all respects." SIGN READING (English): "REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, NATIONAL DISASTER RISK REDUCTION" EXTERIOR OF NATIONAL DISASTER AGENCY
  • Embargoed: 21st December 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Philippines
  • Country: Philippines
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAP1S3L6C1RAUC0B2M2GGS2HO2
  • Story Text: Filipino volunteers and Philippine Navy personnel packed relief goods at a warehouse in Manila on Saturday (December 6) as a powerful typhoon approached central provinces.
    Typhoon Hagupit was approaching eastern coasts on Saturday, with its eye 230 km (143 miles) east northeast of Borongan, in Eastern Samar province, the weather bureau PAGASA said.
    With winds of up to 195 kph (121 mph) near the center and gusts of up to 215 kph (133 mph), the storm was moving slowly at 10 kph (6 mph) and was expected to hit Eastern or Northern Samar province early on Sunday.
    In Manila, people prepared tinned goods, sugar and rice among other items to be distributed to residents in affected provinces after the typhoon hit.
    Department of Social Welfare and Development Officer Thelsa Biolena said teams were in place across the region to assist affected residents.
    "Our quick response teams are already deployed in regions that are expected to be hit by the typhoon. Our personnel underwent training to ensure that they are able to handle the emergency situation in their designated areas," she said.
    The storm was downgraded to a notch below super typhoon category but could still unleash huge destruction with torrential rain and potentially disastrous storm surges of up to 4.5 meters (15 feet).
    More than half a million people have fled their homes as the storm nears.
    "Definitely it's threatening so we, as I've said over and over again, we leave, as much as possible we leave no stone unturned, so to speak. Of course the preparation is being undertaken, in all respects," said national disaster agency spokesman Alexander Pama.
    More than 616,000 residents of low-lying villages and landslide-prone areas have fled to schools, civic centers, town halls, gyms and churches, the national disaster agency said.
    The eastern islands of Samar and Leyte, worst-hit by 250 kph (155 mph) winds and storm surges brought by Typhoon Haiyan in November last year, could be in the firing line again.
    Haiyan, one of the strongest typhoons ever to make landfall left more than 7,000 dead or missing and more than 4 million homeless or with damaged houses.
    About 25,000 people in Eastern Samar and Leyte still live in tents, shelters and bunkhouses more than a year after Haiyan.
    About 10 million residents of the Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions of the central Philippines are at risk of flooding, storm surges and strong winds as Hagupit hits land.
    AccuWeather Global Weather Center said more than 30 million people would feel the impact of the typhoon across the Philippines.
    The weather bureau said 47 provinces were at risk of strong wind and rains.
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