breaking news as of 9pm PAGASA issued a red alert warning: low-lying areas, coastal towns & cities, CAMANAVA: Evacuate now

GMA News on Channel 24 at about 9:20pm through Jessica Soho announced that PAGASA, the weather bureau, just now issued a red alert warning. It means those in low-lying areas in coastal towns and in cities in the Metro, those in CAMANAVA, and those near rivers, should evacuate immediately.

Here’s from the PAGASA Twitter account:

PAGASA-DOST ‏@dost_pagasa

RED WARNING SIGNAL: Issued at: 09:00 PM, 06 August 2012 (Monday) Target Areas: Metro Manila An accumulated (cont)

and the longer version of the PAGASA tweet: 

“RED WARNING SIGNAL:
Issued at: 09:00 PM, 06 August 2012 (Monday)
Target Areas: Metro Manila

“An accumulated rainfall of 83.5mm was recorded over QC and 63.5mm over Marikina for the past 3hrs. Heavy to intense (10.0 to 30.0 mm/hr) rainfall over the rest of Metro Manila.

“Occasional Heavy to Intense (10.0 to 30.0 mm/hr) rainfall is expected over Metro Manila and most likely to continue for the next 3 hours.

“Flooding over low-lying areas and those located near the river channels

“Residents in high risk areas are advised to take precautionary measures and MONITOR the weather condition and WATCH OUT for the next warning.”

    In detail, here’s what a red alert warning from PAGASA means:

“Red means “stop”. Better stop what you are doing now if PAGASA says your area is under a “red warning.” Evacuate.

(figure/image from gmanews.tv)”Think about the amount of rain at Typhoon Ondoy’s (Ketsana) peak when it hit the country on September 26, 2009. The recorded rainfall at that time was approximately 56 mm in an hour. According to PAGASA, if more than 30mm rain is observed in an hour, and is expected to continue in the next two hours, then low-lying areas are expected to experience serious flooding. Residents in areas that have low elevation, such as coastal towns and cities, the CAMANAVA (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) area, are advised to evacuate immediately.” (from gmanews.tv)

ang ibig sabihin po, kung nasa lugar po kayo na binaha nang grabe nuong Ondoy, maghanda-handa na raw po or mag-evacuate na ayon sa PAGASA — tawagan or kontakin ang inyong barangay captain or city mayor.