Storm signals up as Neneng heads for Batanes

MANILA, Philippines —Tropical Depression Neneng intensified into a tropical storm on Saturday afternoon prompting the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) to place much of northern Luzon under alert.

Pagasa raised wind Signal No. 2 over Batanes, Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands, Apayao, northern Abra, and Ilocos Norte.

Meanwhile, wind Signal No. 1 was raised in northern Isabela, Kalinga, the rest of Abra, northern Mountain Province, and northern Ilocos Sur.

Neneng might make landfall at or pass very close to Babuyan Islands or Batanes by morning of Oct. 16.

As of 5 p.m. Saturday, Neneng was 255 kilometers east-southeast of Calayan, Cagayan, with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

Neneng is expected to leave the country’s area of responsibility around 2 a.m. on Oct. 17.

—ANGEL YABUT

RELATED STORY

Neneng intensifies into a tropical storm — Pagasa