All Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (PDRRMCs) in Western Visayas are now on red alert status — the highest level — in anticipation of Tropical Storm Auring.

The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD-6) advised those people living in areas that are susceptible to landslides and floods to be extra vigilant.

The Regional DRRMC Operation Center at the Camp Martin Delgado in Iloilo City is on 24/7 monitoring. The region’s response group is composed of personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and Philippine Air Force, among others.

Alitha Nogra, OCD-6 Disaster Risk Reduction Management head, said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-6) has prepositioned family food packs in areas expected to be hit by Auring.

Department of Health (DOH) hospitals in the region have also been placed on alert level.

Auring, based on the 5 p.m. bulletin issued by state weather bureau PAGASA, was at 440 kilometer (km) east southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, packing maximum sustain winds of 65 km per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 90 kph.

It is moving northwestward at 15 kph.IMT