Typhoon "Lawin" Haima is now lashing at the areas of Northern Luzon with winds of up to 185kmph. The areas at Northern Luzon are Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Apayao, and the Mountain Province.
In the Philippines, signal number 4 means a very intense typhoon is underway with strong winds of more than 185 kph coming within 12 hours' time. This category of wind speed may uproot trees and cause severe damage along its path. Disruption of power and services, including the internet, is to be expected. The aftermath won't look good.
Typhoon "Lawin" Haima's direct path will be the provinces of Cagayan, Calayan Group of Islands, Apayao, Ilocos Norte and Northern Isabela. Its wind speed continues at 185kph and packs a gustiness of 230kph as it continues to move west northwest of the archipelago, according to the PAGASA weather beaureu.
Magat Dam's water level, located at Magat River, a main tributary of the Cagayan River, has increased dramatically as Intense rain is pouring on the areas hit by the storm; it is continuing its spilling operation as its three gates remained open allowing it to spill over. The Binga Dam, in the Agno River, Benguet Province, has its two gates open while the Ambuklao Dam opened a single gate, also in Benguet, DOST officials said.
The Philippine government had given precautionary measures on how to brace for this storm surge and assigned Disaster Management Teams of each area of responsibility to assist the victims of this calamity.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is on full alert and constantly updates the situation of the super typhoon.
