Storm signals up in Northern Luzon

[wpgmappity id=”471″]

MANILA, Philippines—Storm warning signals have been raised in several provinces of Northern Luzon as “Dindo” intensifies further into a tropical storm and shift its direction towards Batanes Province.

Signal number two has been raised in Cagayan and Isabela Province while signal number one has been raised in the Batanes Group of Islands, Calayan Island, Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province, Aurora, Ifugao, Nueva Viscaya, and Quirino Provinces.

According to the 11 a.m. report from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) Wednesday, Dindo was 380 kilometers East Northeast of Virac, Catanduanes.

Dindo was packing 75 kilometer per hour winds near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kilometers per hour, Pagasa said.

Dindo was moving at 19 kilometers per hour in a West Northwest direction and is expected to be 220 kilometers Northeast of Casiguran, Aurora by Thursday morning, it said.

By Friday morning, Dindo is expected to be 150 kilometers West Southwest of Basco, Batanes, Pagasa said.

Estimated rainfall amount is 10 to 25 millimeters per hour, considered as heavy to intense, within the 400 kilometer diameter of the storm. The entire western region of the country was warned against landslides and flash floods that will be brought about by the strong rains.

Rains throughout Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao are expected due to the enhanced Southwest Monsoon.

Fishing boats and sea vessels have been advised to refrain from going out to sea throughout the eastern seaboard of the country due to possible big waves and rough seas, Pagasa said.

“We are already on red alert as of yesterday afternoon,” National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council executive director Benito Ramos said in a press conference Wednesday. With a report from Frances Mangosing