On July 16, the low-pressure area located east of northern Luzon grew into a tropical depression, now named “Fabian,” and was recorded as the sixth tropical cyclone inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this year. It was initially estimated to be 1,345 kilometers east of northern Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph).
As it grew, it was declared as a tropical storm located 1,090 kilometers east of northern Luzon on July 18. It had maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and was near the center with a gustiness of up to 80 kph. There were also reports of a tropical depression located west of Luzon but outside of the PAR that intensified the monsoon rains brought by the Habagat or southwest monsoon.
On July 19, it was then announced that Fabian had further developed into a severe tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph. PAGASA also monitored another tropical storm with the international name of “Cempaka,” which was outside the PAR and was 840 km northwest of northern Luzon. Both storms continue to enhance the Habagat, which brought rains to several portions of the country.
On July 21, Fabian had reached land and was passing through Batanes and Babuyan Islands. They were then placed on tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1 with maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph.
For the next three days, it would reach its peak wind speed near the center at 150 kph and gustiness of up to 185 kph while moving northwest at 10 kph. During this time, Batanes continued to be under signal no.1. Finally, on July 24, Fabian left PAR.
Disaster Aftermath
Enhanced by Fabian, the Habagat brought a lot of rainfall, increasing the risk of flash floods and rain-induced landslides, especially during heavy or prolonged rainfall in areas such as Ilocos Region, Abra, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, and the northern portion of Palawan including Calamian and Kalayaan Islands.
According to a report issued by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC), a total of 51,680 families or 211,458 persons were affected by the Habagat in certain areas of Regions I, III, NCR, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and CAR. With a total of 17,721 families or 76,846 persons temporarily displaced, 7,585 families or 30,612 persons were currently taking shelter in the 291 evacuation centers located in these areas.
Standby funds, including Quick Response Fund (QRF), were prepared at the DSWD-Central Office. The DSWD-Field Offices(FO) have also allocated funds to support the relief needs of the displaced families through inter-FO augmentation.
Their prepositioned family food packs (FFPs) and other relief items were also made available. Such goods can be received in Disaster Response Centers such as the National Resource Operations Center in Pasay City, the Visayas Disaster Response Center in Cebu City, the DSWD Field Office of CALABARZON, the DSWD-FO CAR, and other DSWD FOs.
Here are a list of numbers that you can call if you need help during a typhoon:
Philippine National Emergency Hotline
911
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)
Trunk line: (02) 8911-5061 to 65 local 100
Operation Centers: (02) 8911-1406, (02) 8912-2665, (02) 8912-5668, (02) 8911-1873
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
Text Hotline: 0918-912-2813
Trunk line: (02) 8931-8101 to 07
Disaster Response Unit: (02) 8856-3665, (02) 8852-8081
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)
Trunk line: (02) 8284-0800
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