UK issues advisory vs travel to typhoon-hit areas

MSAT image as of 3:57 PM, December 4, 2012. Screengrab from https://noah.dost.gov.ph/

MANILA, Philippines–The government of the United Kingdom has warned its citizens against travel to Mindanao amid the onslaught of Typhoon “Pablo,” which was expected to be the strongest storm to hit the Philippines this year.

Updating its travel advisory to the Philippines on Dec. 3, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office advised citizens to stay away from provinces in  the path of Pablo (international name: Bopha), which lashed northeastern Mindanao early Tuesday morning with high winds and heavy rains.

“This advice has been reviewed and reissued with an amendment to the travel summary … We advice against all travel to specific areas of the Philippines and against all but essential travel to other specific areas of the Philippines,” read the advisory.

The advisory barred “all but essential travel” to Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur and Bukidnon, as well as to the provinces of Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Cotabato, Sulu, Basilan and Maguindanao.