Residents of Northern Luzon, particularly in the Ilocos and Cagayan Valley regions, were advised to evacuate while they can after weather forecasters said Typhoon "Ramil" would “hit like a slingshot” the northern tip of Luzon this Thursday.

"They must evacuate now. These people should not wait for the LGUs (local government units) to tell them what to do," said Nathaniel Cruz, deputy director of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

"They must go to safer places now when there is enough time so that the authorities can concentrate on assisting those who really need help," Cruz said two days before the typhoon's expected landfall over Cagayan anytime on October 22.

Anticipating Ramil to dump 20 to 25 mm of torrential rains per hour for up to six hours, PAGASA hoisted Storm Signal No. 2 over Isabela, Cagayan, Batanes, and the Babuyan and Calayan groups of islands at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

The weather bureau also placed Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and Polilio Island under Storm Signal No. 1 as experts forecast Ramil to cause storm surges, gusty winds, and heavy rainfall starting Tuesday night.

Cruz issued the advisory after spotting Ramil about 820 kilometers east northeast of Aparri in Cagayan, maintaining maximum sustained winds of 195 kph near the center and gustiness of 230 kph while moving west southwest with a speed of 17 kph as of 10 a.m. Tuesday.

He noted that by Wednesday, provinces in Northern Luzon particularly in the Batanes area will start to take the beating from Ramil that was measured at about 900 kilometers in diameter and can grow even wider as it is expected to stay over the Luzon Sea until Wednesday.

Cruz said the stormy weather from Ramil’s wide swath could reach as far as Zambales, Tarlac, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and Aurora as the typhoon's eye was expected to hover near the Batanes area on Thursday.

He said heavy rains of 20 to 25 mm per hour would be comparable to the filling of water in 500 Olympic-sized swimming pools within just one hour "if the typhoon will hit a 5,000-hectare area like Quezon City," which could trigger flashfloods and landslides in North Luzon.

Even though dam operators in North Luzon assured that the watersheds have reached a level capable to buffer the expected rains, PAGASA Hydrometeorology Division chief Susan Espinueva noted that floods will still occur in the saturated regions of Cagayan, Ilocos and the Cordilleras.

Ilocos Sur Governor Deogracias Victor B. Savellano for his part has ordered all Disaster Coordinating Councils in the province to implement preemptive evacuations of communities identified as highly vulnerable to flooding, storm surges and landslides.

“As a preventive measure against the forecasted passing and harsh effect of Typhoon Ramil in Northern Luzon provinces particularly in Ilocos Sur, I am appealing to all residents near the shorelines and landslide-prone areas to move to safer places. This is to prevent the loss of lives during disasters,” he said.

“Communities should brace for heavy rainfall and very strong winds that could be initially experienced in the midweek. In that, I strongly advise the disaster coordinating councils to conduct the evacuation activities at the earliest possible time thru the prudent discretion of local executives based on the current local situations and latest severe warning bulletin prognosis,” the governor said.

Members of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council have visited all coastal towns and landslides-prone areas to assist local councils in the preemptive evacuations.

Many Ilocos Sur towns were flooded during the onslaught of Typhoon “Pepeng”. They include Caoayan, Santa, Magsingal, Sinait, San Vicente, Cabugao, Sto. Domingo, San Ildefonso, Sta. Maria, San Esteban, Santiago, Sta. Lucia, Sta. Cruz, Tagudin, Cervantes, Quirino, Sugpon, Sigay, Del Pilar, Candon City, Vigan City and Narvacan.

In San Manuel, Pangasinan, an official of the National Power Corporation said the three dams located along the stretch of the Agno River basin will continue to release water in a regulated manner in preparation for the heavy rains so that people in low-lying communities will not be caught by surprise. (With reports from Freddie Lazaro, Dexter See and Franco Regala)