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35,000 flee homes as Typhoon Ambo barrels its way to Bicol

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typhoon ambo sorsogon bicol

Residents carrying their belongings and wearing face masks, arrive at a school compound serving as temporary shelter in Sorsogon town, Bicol region, south of Manila on May 14, 2020, as Typhoon Vongfong approaches. - A powerful typhoon hit the central Philippines on May 14, forcing a complicated and risky evacuation for tens of thousands already hunkered down at home during the coronavirus pandemic. Because of the twin threat of the storm and the virus, evacuation centres in the central Philippines will only accept half their capacity and evacuees will have to wear facemasks. (Photo by Sharbyn SAYAT / AFP)

LEGAZPI CITY—At least 35,000 people had already evacuated in Albay as Typhoon Ambo (international name Vongfong) barrelled its way to the Bicol region.

Cedric Daep, Albay Public Safety Emergency and Management Office (Apsemo), said those were the first evacuees from at least four towns.

Daep said he expects at least 80,000 individuals to flee areas at risk of floods, landslides and storm surge and move to safer ground. Mass evacuation is ongoing in 15 towns and three cities.

The entire Bicol peninsula was under storm Signal No. 3 as of 5 p.m.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Typhoon Ambo was moving west at 15 kph with maximum winds of 155 kph and gustiness of 255 kph.

The storm was expected to make landfall between 10 p.m. of Thursday (May 14) and 4 a.m. of Friday (May 15), bringing moderate to heavy rains to the provinces of Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur and Catanduanes.

Edited by TSB
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