Typhoon Kuppo batters northern Philippines, excessive rains to last for days

Manila, Philippines, 18 October (update 1300 Manila time) -- Typhoon Koppu (local name Lando) made landfall in the province of Aurora early Sunday according to state weather bureau PAGASA. Packing maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the centre and gusts of up to 210 kph, Kuppo significantly slowed down to 3 kph as it continues to move west. Storm signal warnings are still up in 30 areas including Metro Manila (signal number 2).

Authorities warn Koppu could bring in a huge amount of rainfall that could trigger landslides and flash floods.

Typhoon Koppu is expected to remain over mainland Luzon for up to three days and exit Philippine area of responsibility by Saturday, Oct 24. Authorities warned that this could bring in a huge amount of rainfall that could trigger landslides and flash floods submerging rural farming communities and coastal areas.

World Vision communicator Joy Maluyo in Isabela shares, “I saw large tracks of rice fields inundated by floods. If rains continue for days the crops will rot and farmers will bear big losses if they fail to salvage their harvest.”

Government search and rescue teams are also deployed while preposition food and emergency supplies are made available in evacuation centers. Thousands of families from low-lying areas and danger zones evacuated to safety after heeding government warnings.

"If rains continue for days the crops will rot and farmers will bear big losses if they fail to salvage their harvest.”

Bebeth Tiu, World Vision’s Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs (HEA) Director shares, “Road blocks, power cuts and downed communications slow down efforts to establish the full extent of the damage and urgent needs of the affected families.”

World Vision has mobilized its National Disaster Management Team to check the extent of damages and urgent needs of people in World Vision assisted areas in the province lsabela and nearby areas affected by the typhoon. World Vision is assisting over 4,600 children in its program areas in Isabela and Pangasinan supported by WVUS and WVDF-PHLO. It has prepositioned supplies ready for 2000 families. Pre-positioned items, including hygiene kits, kitchen sets, tarps, ropes, and other non-food supplies are available in WVDF warehouses and are ready to be mobilized for distribution.

Power lines are cut in the hardest hit areas of northern Luzon as Typhoon Koppu continues to unleash intense and non-stop rains bringing flashfloods that overflow in major roads and bridges. Local authorities are working to restore power and clear roads of debris.

“We remain hopeful that the government and the people’s preparedness measures will hold and we’re praying that damages will be manageable."

“We remain hopeful that the government and the people’s preparedness measures will hold and we’re praying that damages will be manageable. We’re ready to assist the government, working together with local partners, other aid agencies and the UN humanitarian country team ready to participate in joint assessments to quickly establish the impact and the response that we need to mount in the coming days as more information gets through.” Tiu added.

World Vision continues to coordinate with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and its local disaster units through field staff, advising communities to stay away from flood-prone and landslide-prone areas along the typhoon’s path.

Last Friday, President Benigno Aquino III shared in his public address that the government estimates 1.5 million families would need relief assistance. The social welfare department has 128M (est USD 2.78 M) worth of standby funds and prepositioned emergency supplies in Luzon for those who will be affected by typhoon Kuppo.