Typhoon Koppu (locally known as “Lando”) has maintained its strength as it approaches Northern Philippines with maximum sustained winds of 150km/h near the centre and gusts of up to 185km/h.
Koppu is moving at a slow pace and is expected to bring heavy to intense rainfall within its 600-km diameter.
State weather bureau PAGASA has raised public storm warning signal number three over four provinces: Aurora, Quirino, Isabela and Polillo Island. Koppu will also bring moderate to heavy rains to 33 other provinces including Metro Manila.
According to PAGASA, storm surges of up to two meters are possible at coastal areas under storm signal number three, as open sea wave height can go up to more than 14 meters.
Because of Koppu’s slow movement due to high-pressure areas and the presence of Typhoon Champi behind it, the affected provinces have a high possibility of experiencing intense rainfall, flashfloods and landslides.
The Philippine Government has advised people affected to prepare and evacuate.
CARE International is closely monitoring the typhoon situation and coordinating with UNOCHA, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and international non-government organisation networks in Manila.
CARE emergency staff in Manila, and partners in Northern Luzon are ready to respond if needed.
“Our emergency team is ready to make rapid assessments in affected areas on the immediate needs of the affected people after the landfall. We will be ready to respond if needed,” said Tess Bayombong, CARE Philippines’ Program Director and Acting Country Director.
CARE has worked in the Philippines since 1949, providing emergency relief when disaster strikes and helping communities prepare for disasters. CARE’s past responses in the Philippines have included typhoon Bopha in 2012 and typhoon Ketsana in 2009. CARE is also presently assisting Haiyan-affected communities helping through livelihoods recovery assistance.
CARE’s emergency response teams specialise in providing life-saving assistance. CARE has more than six decades of experience helping people prepare for disasters, providing lifesaving assistance when a crisis hits, and helping communities recover after the emergency has passed.
Ryan Fritz
Ryan Fritz started The Advocate in 2014 to provide not-for-profits and charities another media platform to tell their worthwhile hard news stories and opinion pieces effortlessly. In 2020, Ryan formed a team of volunteer journalists to help spread even more high-quality stories from the third sector. He also has over 10 years experience as a media and communications professional for not-for-profits and charities and currently works at Redkite, a childhood cancer charity.
