‘Falcon’ makes landfall in Cagayan

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Storm Falcon (international name: Danas) made landfall in Cagayan early Wednesday morning, the state weather bureau said.

“Falcon” lashed Gattaran at 12:30 a.m., weather specialist Ezra Bulquerin said.

The storm is now heading towards Babuyan Group of Islands at 35 kilometers per hour.

Signal No. 2 was hoisted over Apayao, Batanes, Cagayan and  Babuyan Group of Islands.

The following areas were placed under Signal No. 1: Ilocos Norte, Abra, Kalinga, Isabela, Mountain Province, Ifugao, northern portion of Aurora, northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya and northern portion of Quirino.

Falcon was last spotted in the coastal waters of Aparri, Cagayan, with a maximum sustained wind speed of 65 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 80 kph.

Moderate to heavy rains are expected over the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, northern Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo Islands, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, and Guimaras.

Light to moderate and at times heavy rains are expected in Metro Manila, Calabarzon , Bicol region, the rest of the Visayas, and the rest of Mimaropa.

Residents of flood and landslide-prone areas along the path of “Falcon” are advised to take precautionary measures.  /gsg