BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
“Auring” intensified from tropical depression to tropical storm yesterday, and was moving toward the northwestward direction at 10 kilometers per hour, based on the report of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration.
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer, Zeaphard Gerhart Caelian, said that Negros Occidental has been placed on blue alert status since Wednesday by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson because of “Auring”.
As of 3 p.m. yesterday, Pagasa said the storm was estimated at 635 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center, and gustiness of up to 80km/h.
Caelian said “Auring” is moving slowly as it crosses the Philippine Sea.
“With its tracks moving upward, we are now concentrating on northern Negros,” he added.
Several towns and cities in northern Negros have been hit by flashfloods last month.
KANLAON RESTLESS
Meanwhile, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said that its monitoring network recorded seven volcanic quakes at Kanlaon volcano yesterday, compared to 20 volcanic quakes on Wednesday.
Phivolcs reminded the public that Kanlaon Volcano is at Alert Level 1, that means that it is at an abnormal condition and has entered a period of unrest. It also advised concerned local government units to strictly enforce the 4-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) due to possibilities of sudden and hazardous steam-driven or phreatic eruptions.*
