Philippines: Flight disruptions at Manila airport (MNL) due to Typhoon Tisoy December 2-4 /update 3

Event

Authorities at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) announced several flight cancelations as of 12:00 (local time) on Monday, December 2, due to Typhoon Tisoy. It said that several airlines including PAL Express, Cebu Pacific, Cebgo, and SkyJet have cancelled dozens of domestic flights scheduled for Monday. Representatives of Philippine Airlines have advised passengers traveling via MNL or Clark International Airport (CRK) on Monday, through Wednesday, December 4, to confirm their flight status prior to leaving for the airport as further flight cancelations or delays are possible.

Several thousand people began preemptively evacuating their homes on Saturday, November 30, as Typhoon Tisoy is forecast to bring heavy rain and strong winds across the Philippines from Monday, through Wednesday. Local disaster management offices have not yet issued mandatory evacuation orders as of 10:00 on Monday. Typhoon Kammuri was renamed Typhoon Tisoy as it entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Saturday. The storm is expected to make landfall over Catanduanes, Albay, or Sorsogon between the night of Monday and the early morning of Tuesday, December 3. Some schools and government offices will reportedly close on Monday and Tuesday in anticipation of the severe weather. 

According a statement issued at 11:00 on Monday by the Philippine meteorology agency, PAGASA, Tisoy is due to bring heavy to intense rain and strong winds from Monday afternoon, through Wednesday noon to areas in the Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon (including Metro Manila), Calabarzon, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, and Mimaropa regions. In a statement issued at 05:00 on Monday, PAGASA warns of disruptions to maritime travel off the eastern coast due to anticipated storm surge with a height of 1-3 m (3-10 ft). Tisoy is expected to weaken by Wednesday, before passing out of the PAR on Friday, December 6. As of 10:00 on Monday, Typhoon Tisoy is located at approximately 12.9°N 126.3°E (map here) and is moving west at a speed of 20 kph (12 mph). The storm has maximum sustained winds of 150 kph (93 mph) near the center, with gusts up to 185 kph (121 mph).

Associated flooding, landslides, and transportation disruptions are expected across the Philippines. Officials at the Southeast Asian Games have reported some disruptions to events on Monday and Tuesday with several venues across Clark, Manila, and Subic. The Games are due to last until Wednesday, December 11.

Advice

Individuals in the Philippines are advised to monitor local weather reports, anticipate transportation and business disruptions, confirm flight reservations, and adhere to instructions issued by local authorities. Avoid walking or driving through floodwaters; 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult.