At least 66 families, or 267 individuals, were evacuated early as a precautionary measure in Getafe town, Bohol, ahead of the expected onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Tino (Kalmaegi) over the Visayas.
Mayor Cary Camacho said the first phase of the evacuation took place on Sunday afternoon, November 2, as part of the town’s preemptive safety efforts. The evacuees came from island barangays and coastal communities considered highly vulnerable to storm surges and strong winds.
He said the evacuees were brought to the Poblacion (town center) evacuation center. He added that the number of evacuees may still increase today as officials continue to urge residents in high-risk areas to move to safer ground.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has placed Bohol under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 as of 8 a.m. on Monday, warning that strong winds and intermittent rains will affect the island province.
As of 8 a.m. Monday, the storm’s center was located 360 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts up to 135 kph while moving west at 20 kph.
Pagasa warned of possible flooding, landslides, and coastal surges, especially in low-lying and coastal areas. Sea travel remains risky due to rough to very rough seas across the eastern seaboards of the Visayas and Mindanao.
Tino may reach typhoon category within 12 hours and could make landfall over Eastern Samar, Leyte, or Dinagat Islands by late Monday or early Tuesday, before crossing the Visayas toward the West Philippine Sea, Pagasa said.
Earlier, Governor Aris Aumentado suspended classes at all levels, both in public and private schools, as a safety measure.
Local disaster response teams in Getafe remain on alert as Tino continues to move closer to the central Philippines