Pagasa warns of floods in various areas in Central, Southern Luzon

MANILA, Philippines — As Typhoon Fabian continues to intensify the southwest monsoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned of the possibility of floods in various areas in Central and Southern Luzon.

Bulletins released by Pagasa on Thursday night showed that an Orange Rainfall Warning remains hoisted over Metro Manila, Bataan, Cavite, Zambales, Oriental and Occidental Mindoro — which means that flooding is still a threat in these areas.

Similarly, Pagasa released another flood warning for watercourses along the Pasig-Marikina-Tullahan river system.  According to the latest advisory, the following parts of the river system may be affected by flooding:

Main Stream:

• Upper Marikina River (Rodriguez, Antipolo, San Mateo, Quezon City, Marikina)
• Lower Marikina River (Pasig, Mandaluyong)
• Pasig River (Pasig, Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila
• Tullahan River (Quezon City, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela

Tributaries:

• Mango River (Rodriguez)
• Nangka River (Marikina, San Mateo, Antipolo)
• San Juan River (Quezon City, San Juan, Manila)

“People living near the mountain slopes and in the low-lying areas of the above-mentioned cities and the local disaster risk reduction and management councils concerned are advised to be alert and take appropriate action,” Pagasa said.

“Local flooding is possible in some areas due to impounding water and poor drainage system,” it added.

As of 6:25 p.m., Marikina City’s Public Information Office said that water levels at the Marikina River were still at normal ranges, at 13.9 meters.

Meanwhile, a Yellow Rainfall Warning is still raised over Bulacan, Tarlac, Palawan’s Calamian Islands, Ilocos Sur towns of Santa and Narvacan, Pugo in La Union, and Tuba and Itogon in Benguet.

Yellow Rainfall Warnings mean that flooding may occur in flood-prone areas.  Also, Pagasa said that nearby areas may also experience light to moderate rains, with at times heavy rains, still due to the southwest monsoon.

Earlier, Pagasa reported that Fabian was able to maintain its strength, packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, and gustiness of up to 185 kph.

Fabian’s eye was last seen around 505 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, with strong winds extending outwards up to 630 kilometers from the center.

The typhoon is still not expected to directly hit any part of the country’s landmass, but it may intensify the effects of the southwest monsoon — which may mean continuous rains for a huge area in Luzon.

READ: Fabian maintains strength; continues slow movement toward west—Pagasa

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