By Jafar Belen Yahya

MANILA

A total of 19,119 individuals were evacuated in 11 towns of Catanduanes Sunday afternoon due to typhoon Bising, a state media reported on Monday.

Philippine Information Agency (PIA) said Governor Joseph C. Cua directed all municipal mayors and punong barangays of Catanduanes  to order mandatory evacuation of all residents living near shorelines, riverbanks, and landslide-prone areas.

According to the report, the breakdown of evacuees per town were as follows: Baras (3,052); Bagamanoc (336); Bato (230);  Caramoran (119); Gigmoto (2,002); Pandan (157); Panganiban (760); San Andres (247); San Miguel (2,775); Viga (69); and Virac (9,372).

All passenger vessels bound to and from the ports of Catanduanes are not allowed to venture into sea until typhoon signals are lifted.

Power supply were also cut-off provincewide, but network connections are still up.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported that Catanduanes along with Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Albay, and Samar provinces are among places which may incur light to moderate damage to structures and vegetation due to strong winds and flash floods or landslides due to moderate to heavy rains.

“As of 3:00 PM today, the center of the eye of Typhoon “BISING” {SURIGAE} was located based on all available data at 500 km East of Infanta, Quezon (14.6°N, 126.3°E) with maximum sustained winds of 195 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 240 km/h. It is moving North Northwestward slowly,” Pagasa said. JBY