Typhoon Ulysses intensifies further as it makes 2 landfalls in

Posted On November 16, 2020

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 11) — Typhoon Ulysses begins to unleash its wrath in Luzon after making two landfalls in Quezon on Wednesday night.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) recorded Ulysses’ first landfall in the vicinity of Patnanungan, Quezon at 10:30 p.m. The typhoon’s second landfall was in the vicinity of Burdeos, Quezon at 11:20 p.m.

Ulysses made a close approach in Calaguas Islands in Camarines Norte, while landfall over Polillo Islands is expected between 11 p.m. on Wednesday and 2 a.m. on Thursday, Dr. Esperanza Cayanan, PAGASA’s deputy administrator for research and development, told CNN Philippines’ The Final Word.

In its 11 p.m. update, Typhoon Ulysses was last seen 70 kilometers east of Infanta, Quezon while intensifying its winds to 150 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 205 kph.

Intense with at times torrential rainfall will be felt in the central and southern portions of Aurora, the northern and central portion of Quezon including Polillo Islands, and the western portion of Camarines Norte within the next three hours due to the destructive winds of Ulysses.

The typhoon is expected to make landfall over Polillo Island within the next hour and over mainland northern Quezon (General Nakar-Infanta area) between midnight and 3 a.m. on Thursday under its peak intensity.

Ulysses will then cross Central Luzon and emerge over the western seaboard of Zambales on Thursday morning as it heads for its exit in the Philippine territory by Friday morning or afternoon, PAGASA said.

Cayanan told CNN Philippines’ The Final Word that residents in areas where a wind signal is raised, and those living in hazard prone areas like coastal and downstream dam areas, should be prepared of possible landslides or floods that may occur due to heavy rains from Ulysses.

Signal No. 3 is still hoisted over the southern portion of Quirino, the southern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Tarlac, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, the northern and central portions of Quezon including Polillo Islands, Batangas, Camarines Norte, and the northern portion of Camarines Sur.

These areas will experience winds of greater than 121 kilometers per hour up to 170 kph in at least 18 hours, which could bring moderate to heavy damage to farms and infrastructure, it added,

Signal No. 2 is still up in the central and southern portions of Isabela, rest of Quirino, rest of Nueva Vizcaya, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, southern portion of Ilocos Sur, La Union, rest of Quezon, Marinduque, northern portion of Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island, northern portion of Oriental Mindoro, the rest of Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Burias Island, and northern portion of Sorsogon.

These areas will experience gale to storm-force winds of between 61 kph and 120 kph within at least 24 hours, which could bring light to moderate damage to high-risk structures.

Signal No. 1 is up in the rest of Isabela, Kalinga, the rest of Ilocos Sur, the rest of Occidental Mindoro, the rest of Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, the rest of Sorsogon, the central and western portion of Masbate including Ticao Island, and the western portion of Northern Samar.

These areas will experience 30 to 60 kph winds or intermittent rains in at least 36 hours, with very light or no damage to low-risk structures.

Between Thusday morning and afternoon, PAGASA said Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, and the northern portion of Mindoro Provinces will experience heavy to intense with at times torrential rains, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains may be expected in Western Visayas and the rest of Luzon

The Philippine Coast Guard said more than 2,000 passengers, drivers, and cargo helpers are stranded in ports across the country due to Ulysses. At least 930 are in Bicol, 650 in Eastern Visayas, 280 in Southern Tagalog, and 195 in NCR.

Don Culvera, head of Camarines Norte’s Incident Management Team, told CNN Philippines News.PH that a pre-emptive evacuation was conducted on Tuesday, while a forced evacuation was ordered the following day. He said around 12,000 individuals are now staying in evacuation centers.

He also said his team did not expect strong wind and heavy rain to last this long. Many areas are already flooded and roads cannot be accessed due to fallen trees and electric posts, which were not experienced during the onslaught of typhoons Quinta and Rolly, Culvera said.

Catanduanes Gov. Joseph Cua told CNN Philippines Newsroom Ngayon that compared to Super Typhoon Rolly, Ulysses brought more rains that led to heavy flooding in 16 areas of the province based on their initial report.

Cua said he already ordered a preemptive evacuation on Tuesday, especially in coastal areas and those recently affected by Rolly.

READ: Evacuation ordered in Albay, Catanduanes ahead of Ulysses’ landfall

Cua and Culvera sought assistance from the national government since their local funds have been depleted due to the pandemic. Cua specifically said that funding is very much needed to help residents rebuild their destroyed houses.

Cua said around 6,000 houses were totally destroyed, while 8,000 were partially damaged.

To prepare for Ulysses, Carmona Mayor Roy Loyola told CNN Philippines News Night that they already identified all residents living in dangerous areas. As of 5 p.m., 54 families composed of 314 individuals were already evacuated, he said.

Loyola said there are also safety officers in all evacuation centers to ensure compliance with minimum health standards to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

A number of local governments and schools have already announced class cancellations for the day due to the anticipated impact of the typhoon.

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