The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Helen's heavy downpour is expected until at least just past 3 a.m. Wednesday.@01:00AM The center of Tropical Storm#Helen made landfall over Palanan, Isabela.
— PAGASA-DOST (@dost_pagasa) August 14, 2012
As of 12:32AM: Moderate to Heavy rains over the vicinity of Occidental & Oriental Mindoro w/c may prevail for 3hrs.#mimaropa
— PAGASA-DOST (@dost_pagasa) August 14, 2012
Earlier, PAGASA administrator Dr. Nathaniel Servando said in a news conference Tuesday evening that Helen will be moving towards Kalinga and Apayao after making landfall.
“Masungit ang panahon over northern Luzon mamayang gabi at magiging maulan at may bugso ng hangin in Central Luzon habang ang tropical storm ‘Helen’ ay moving towards the area,” Servando said.
Servando noted that the storm is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) through Ilocos Norte by Thursday.
He also warned of flashfloods and landslides in mountainous areas, as well as floods in low-lying areas.
Latest bulletin
In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Helen has maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kilometers per hour (kph) and is forecast to move west northwest at 17 kph.
Helen is expected to be 110 kilometers west of Laoag City by Thursday evening.
Under Public Storm Signal No. 2 are Cagayan including Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands, Isabela, Northern Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Ilocos Sur, Apayao, Kalinga, Ilocos Norte, Abra and the Batanes group of islands.
Under Signal No. 1 are Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac, La Union and the rest of Aurora.
Initial casualties
A man from Pangasinan was recorded as the first fatality of tropical cyclone "Helen" (Kai-Tak) while a fisherman from La Union was reported missing, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Tuesday.
The NDRRMC's 3 p.m. update identified the "casualty" as Armando Borbon, 37, of Sitio Pinalapa in Barangay Dumpay in Basista, Pangasinan.
"At about 8 a.m. (Monday), the victim experienced an epileptic seizure and fell in a flooded rice field," it said. A separate report by radio dzBB's Divine Caraecle said the seizure was fatal.
On the other hand, the NDRRMC identified the missing person as one Bonifacio Cabilan of San Fernando in La Union, who was aboard a motorized banca and failed to return home.
The NDRRMC also said a strong wind with rain damaged 15 houses in Sitio Lopez in Brgy. Cuto; Sitio Villasis in Brgy. Rizal and Brgy. Miligas in Molave, Zamboanga del Sur at 4 p.m. Monday.
"No evacuation was made because the affected families stayed with their relatives," the NDRRMC said.
7 dams open gates
As of 2 p.m. Tuesday, the NDRRMC said seven dams opened their gates. These include:
- Angat Dam, 3 gates
- Ipo Dam, 4 gates
- Ambuklao Dam, 1 gate
- Binga Dam, 3 gates
- San Roque Dam, 1 gate
- Magat Dam, 2 gates
- Bustos Dam, 1 gate
NDRRMC asks fishermen, north luzon travelers to delay trips
Disaster management officials on Tuesday appealed to fishermen in the eastern seaboard and to travelers in Northern Luzon to delay their trips amid the threat of heavy rain from tropical storm "Helen" (Kai-Tak).
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Benito Ramos also asked local officials to help the Coast Guard make sure fishermen do not sneak out to sea at this time.
"Alam kong mahal ang isda dahil kaunti ang nangingisda, at kung nakatsamba kayo mahal ang (huli ninyo). Pero kung kayo ang natsambahan kawawa ang pamilya ninyo (I know it is tempting to fish now because there are few fishermen now at sea, and if you chance on big fish like lapulapu, you could sell your catch at a high price. But if the rain or big waves get you by chance, your families will suffer)," Ramos said at a media briefing, parts of which were aired on dzBB radio.
He said his appeal applied even to fishermen in Bicol, including Catanduanes and Camarines; as well as Real, Infanta and General Nakar in Quezon; as well as Aurora.
Residents in those areas should also keep watch against possible landslides as those sites are landslide-prone, he added.
North Luzon travelers
As for travelers in Northern Luzon, Ramos appealed to them to delay unnecessary travel at least until "Helen" leaves.
PAGASA earlier said Helen may make landfall on Cagayan on Wednesday and leave Philippine territory by Thursday.
Ramos said the land in many parts of Northern Luzon had been saturated, and may be prone to landslides.
He said these may include Hanselma Highway in Benguet; the road between Mountain Province and Ilocos Sur; and the Itogon Dalupirip Road between Baguio and Nueva Vizcaya.
Manila Bay area
After being forced to suspend embassy operations twice in the last two weeks due to bad weather conditions, US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. is hoping the new tropical storm will just pass by the country this time.
Thomas posted the comment on his Twitter account Tuesday afternoon, while looking out at the strong winds on Manila Bay.
"Looking out at the strong winds on the bay. Hoping the storms pass us by this time," he said.
PAGASA earlier said "Helen" may bring heavy rain over Metro Manila and nearby provinces by enhancing the southwest monsoon.
The US Embassy along Roxas Boulevard had fallen victim to bad weather conditions in the last two weeks.
Last August 1, a monsoon surge flooded Roxas Boulevard, including the US Embassy. The embassy was forced to suspend operations.
One week later, heavy rain and floods brought by an enhanced monsoon also forced the US Embassy to suspend operations.
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