APD | Tropical cyclone “Ursula” ravages Central Philippines

By APD writer Melo M. Acuña

**MANILA, Dec. 25 (APD) ** – Floods and damaged homes are common sight in Central Philippines where Tropical Cyclone “Ursula” ravaged since last night until this afternoon as government agencies rush to assist the affected victims.

While there have been no casualty reports as of this writing, scores have fled homes for government evacuation centers. Hundreds of residents from villages at the slopes of the 2,462-meter conical Mayon Volcano transferred to safer areas for fear of flash floods and lahar flows, hundreds more will have to rebuild homes.

“Ursula,” the 21st tropical cyclone to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) for this year, still packs maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 195 kilometers per hour moves west-north-west at a speed of 25 kilometers per hour.

Nearly 24,000 passengers with over 3,200 rolling cargoes and remain stranded at different ports as 157 vessels and over 40 motorized bancas have been prevented from sailing rough seas in typhoon-affected areas. Some 63 domestic flights between Manila and various provinces have been cancelled due to the weather disturbance.

Ten towns and cities in Eastern and Central Visayas have no electric power as of this writing.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)