Concerned state agencies alerted as Typhoon Danas moves near Philippine

The Philippine government ordered all the concerned state agencies down to local to be on alert and to implement proactive evacuations if needed as Typhoon Danas, named as "Ramil", moved near the Philippine Area of Responsibility Sunday afternoon. According to the state weather agency at 7:00 p.m., the eye of Typhoon Danas was located based on satellite and surface data at 1, 080 kilometers east northeast of Itbayat in northern province of Batanes. The weather disturbance has maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometer per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph. It is forecast to move northwest at 26 kph. National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Eduardo del Rosario said that the concerned agencies were advised to take appropriate actions. "In order to better inform/warn communities, you are reminded to disseminate these (information) through local/community leaders and through your local media, including community radio stations," he said. He said that the local effort will complement and reinforce efforts at the national level. "Emphasis should be on proactive actions - evacuation rather than rescue. Let us untiringly aim for zero casualty," Del Rosario said. Typhoon Danas is expected to bring 7.5-15 millimeters per hour of rainfall within its 550 km diameter, NDRRMC said, adding that sea travel is risky over the northern and eastern seaboards of northern Luzon.