‘Gorio’ grounds flights, disrupts supplies in Batanes
TUGUEGARAO CITY—Flights to Batanes were canceled on Tuesday after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 over this island province due to Typhoon “Gorio” (international name: Podul).
“The cancellation of plane flights in the town of Itbayat, including in the capital town of Basco, is due to the typhoon signal,” Nilda Salengua-Garcia, Itbayat planning and development coordinator and former disaster risk reduction and management officer, told the Inquirer.
Garcia said rice, oil, and other basic commodities arrived in Itbayat on Aug. 6 aboard three commercial shipping vessels, but further trips were suspended due to high waves. She added the current supply may last for about a week.
In Basco, a ship that arrived on Aug. 6 had to take shelter in Calayan town, Cagayan, for safety before it could resume deliveries to Itbayat and other island towns in Batanes, Garcia said.
Strong winds
According to Pagasa, Batanes was expected to experience strong winds with speeds of 39 to 61 kilometers per hour in 36 hours, with minimal to minor threat to life and property.
Gorio is forecast to slightly intensify before making landfall over Taiwan.
Based on the 5 p.m. bulletin of Pagasa on Tuesday, the typhoon was last located 345 km east of Itbayat, with maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gusts reaching up to 150 kph. It was moving west at 25 kph.
Although it was not forecast to make landfall in the Philippines, Pagasa warned that strong to gale-force winds may affect parts of extreme northern Luzon due to the enhanced southwest monsoon.
The highest possible wind signal that could be raised is TCWS No. 2 in Batanes, while areas under TCWS No. 1 may experience minimal to minor wind impacts.
