UAE Filipinos worry about safety of relatives as typhoon nears

Workers in UAE pray as storm nears the Philippines.

Typhoon Maysak captured by astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti at the International Space Station. Samantha Cristoforetti / Nasa / AP Photo

ABU DHABI // Filipinos in the UAE are worried about the safety of their relatives as a super typhoon makes its way towards the Philippines after killing five people in Micronesia’s Chuuk state.

By Thursday afternoon, public storm warnings will be raised over the Bicol and Samar regions.

On Wednesday, typhoon Maysak was 1,165 kilometres east of Guian, Eastern Samar.

Known locally as Chedeng, the typhoon is expected to hit Luzon, particularly in Aurora, Quezon and Isabela, between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

“I’ve been checking on my family every now and then,” said Geraldine Beringel Prieto, 42, a procurement engineer in Dubai who is originally from the typhoon-ravaged city of Tacloban, Leyte.

“Thank God, my husband and two children are all OK and are now preparing for the typhoon if it hits our province.”

Although her family was not seriously affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan, which hit Leyte and nearby provinces in November two years ago, it left her son, who was 12 at the time, traumatised. The typhoon destroyed dozens of coastal towns and killed at least 3,500 people.

Her colleague, Jeanesol Amlos, 32, has been in touch with Luis Cuanso, 46, a cousin who lives in Tacloban City.

“I’ll continue monitoring the news and pray that he and his family will be safe,” she said.

“We can only hope and pray that it doesn’t hit us, and if it does, we hope it won’t cause severe damage,” said Frank Cimafranca, the Filipino consul general in Dubai.

“But we know that our government has already a contingency plan and disaster preparedness programme in place, in the event of a natural calamity.

“Governor Joey Salceda of Albay province has always been pro-active in managing disaster risks.

“I’ve recently come to know that our weather bureau Pagasa has a new storm surge warning system and sends out advisories on possible storm surges to affected residents, especially those living in coastal areas.

“People are then advised on safety measures, including the evacuation of communities.”