Manila: The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced Saturday the deployment of 1,606 police officers to aid coastal communities and other regions at risk of landslides and flash floods. This precautionary measure is in response to the threats from the combined effects of the southwest monsoon and Severe Tropical Storm Crising.
According to Philippines News Agency, PNP Information Chief, Brig. Gen. Randulf Tua±o, communicated that these officers were drawn from the Police Regional Offices in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Cordillera, Metro Manila, and Negros Island. Additionally, 4,307 Reactionary Standby Support Force members are on standby for potential deployment.
Brig. Gen. Tua±o noted that 13,715 evacuation centers have been identified throughout the affected areas. Currently, 207 centers are occupied, offering refuge to 4,594 families, which include 15,301 individuals.
The weather bureau reported that Crising exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as of 10 a.m. Saturday. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) provided an 11 a.m. advisory estimating the storm's center at 235 km west of Itbayat, Batanes.
Crising is traveling westward at a speed of 15 kph, with maximum sustained winds reaching 100 kph near its center and gusts up to 125 kph. PAGASA projected that the storm will continue moving generally west-northwestward toward southern China and is expected to intensify, potentially reaching Typhoon category by Sunday afternoon or evening.
