ARTICLE SERVICES            Reprint this article     Print this article       Send as an e-mail     Send Feedback       Comment on this article on our Vox Populi blog     RELATED STORIES   Western Visayas DENR chief warns of risk of landslides Heavy traffic in parts of Metro Manila after downpour Arroyo resumes visit to typhoon-hit provinces GALLERY 1 Next   Zoom    Satellite image issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration as of 6 a.m. Wednesday showing the position of tropical depression \'Helen.\' Luzon will experience cloudy skies with scattered rains becoming widespread rains over the eastern sections of Northern and Central Luzon which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. Mindanao will ha ... More 4 die in Ilocos road accident 3 drown in Cagayan floods Renewable energy can supply 70% RP needs Negros Occ. to get new police chief US envoy calls for ceasefire in Mindanao Put up more ethanol plants for fuel BIR chief no-show at sugar planters meet More Stories » News Ex-Lacson aides held in US ‘Empty nest’ killings on the rise–NCRPO Arroyo to proceed to Peru; husband fine e=mc2: Einstein's formula proven right 2 women vendors win Citi awards Surgeon dies in Pasay City car crash Canadian sextuplets mired in rights row Emergency landing: Arroyo husband ill SC final ruling: MOA-AD unconstitutional Cops charged for Dacer slay nabbed in US News Emergency landing: Arroyo husband ill Arroyo to proceed to Peru; husband fine Ex-Lacson aides held in US Abducted at noon on a busy Makati street First Gentleman back in Manila Estrada refuses comment: Ask Lacson Lacson declines to issue statement Big humiliation for the Army Cops charged for Dacer slay nabbed in US Warning device fails to save surgeon Coed shot dead, dumped in Manila No need for Lacson to inhibit   News Most Read RSS Hottest Tags Weather WHAT'S THIS?                 More >>

MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE) Tropical storm "Helen" (international codename: Kalmaegi) moved closer to the northeast province of Cagayan late Tuesday evening after gaining strength, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

At 10 p.m., the eye of the storm, which packs maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour with gusts of up to 90 kilometers per hour, was located 140 kilometers east of Aparri, the capital of Cagayan, the state weather bureau said.

Moving northwest, in the direction of Taiwan at seven kilometers per hour, the storm was forecast to be at 60 kilometers north of Aparri by Wednesday evening, 220 kilometers northwest of Basco town, Batanes province by Thursday evening, and 460 kilometers northwest of Basco or 100 kilometers west of northern Taiwan by Friday evening, PAGASA said in its 11 p.m. bulletin

More provinces were placed under public storm signal number 2 (60-100 kilometer per hour winds), including Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Batanes, Ilocos Norte, and the Calayan Islands, PAGASA said.

Public storm signal number 1 (30-60 kilometer per hour winds) was raised in the provinces of Abra, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Aurora, and Ilocos Sur.

While there is no official announcement, the government suspends classes up to the high school level in areas under signal number 2, and up to the elementary level in areas under signal number 1.

The weather bureau warned those in low-lying areas against flash floods and landslides while those in coastal areas were cautioned against big waves.

• Western Visayas DENR chief warns of risk of landslides
• Heavy traffic in parts of Metro Manila after downpour
• Arroyo resumes visit to typhoon-hit provinces

• 4 die in Ilocos road accident
• 3 drown in Cagayan floods
• Renewable energy can supply 70% RP needs
• Negros Occ. to get new police chief
• US envoy calls for ceasefire in Mindanao
• Put up more ethanol plants for fuel
• BIR chief no-show at sugar planters meet