‘Perla’ intensifies into severe tropical storm

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm “Perla” intensified into a severe tropical storm on Saturday, the state weather bureau said.

Perla was last spotted at 600 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes, Benison Estareja, weather specialist of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, reported in an 11 a.m. weather update.

It was packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, and gusts of up to 115 kph.

The severe tropical storm was seen moving west-northwest at a speed of 15 kph.

Extreme Northern Luzon may experience occasional gusts until early next week due to the prevailing northeasterly surface wind flow.

Perla is not expected to bring high-impact weather in the region, Pagasa added.