Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) — Typhoon Bising weakened into a severe tropical storm and may further lose strength on Friday, after unleashing heavy rains and strong winds that caused over ₱200 million in agriculture and infrastructure damage in Bicol and Eastern Visayas, authorities said.
Damage to agriculture reached ₱218,288,528 while losses in terms of structures stood at ₱10,550,000, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said in its situational report as of 8 a.m. Bising also reportedly damaged two seawalls, one tower base, and one port in Caraga, the NDRRMC added. The tropical cyclone completely destroyed 94 houses and partially damaged 1,374 homes in Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and Caraga, the agency reported.
The weather system is seen to bring moderate to rough seas over the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon and eastern seaboard of Central Luzon in the next 24 hours.
Bising was last located 920 km East Northeast of Extreme Northern Luzon, with maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 125 kph while moving 10 kph northeastward.
Bising is forecast to move generally northeastward until Friday evening before turning east southeast to east on Saturday. The following day, it will move east to east northeast.
It is expected to further weaken due to unfavorable atmospheric and oceanic conditions, according to state weather bureau PAGASA.
Bising is projected to exit the country’s area of responsibility by late evening on Saturday or early morning Sunday.
The death toll from Bising remained at four, with 13 injuries, based on NDRRMC’s latest tally. The fatalities were recorded in Bicol, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and Davao, but the NDRRMC clarified the reports are still up for validation. The initial three fatalities were reported pinned down by trees felled by strong winds.
At least 75,448 families or 362,564 individuals from 1,030 villages in Cagayan Valley, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and CARAGA have been affected by the typhoon, the agency said. These include those who have sought shelter in evacuation centers or in the homes of relatives or friends.
The agency also reported 63 cities and municipalities in Bicol, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas experienced power outages amid the onslaught of the weather system, which entered the country’s monitoring area a week ago. Of the number, 54 got their electricity back.
