Pagasa: Only Itbayat under Signal No. 2 as Inday approaches Japan

MANILA, Philippines — Only Itbayat in Batanes was placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 as Typhoon Inday (international name Bavi) approached Sakishima Islands in Southern Japan on Saturday morning, the state weather bureau said. 

In the 5 a.m. weather bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Inday was last seen 500 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes. It decelerated as it moved northwestward from 25 kilometers per hour (kph) to 20 kph. 

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It maintained its strength as it was still carrying maximum wind speed of 140 kph and gustiness of up to 170 kp. Pagasa then noted that Inday will remain as a typhoon within the next 12 hours before it weakens into a severe tropical storm upon moving further inland over mainland China. 

Pagasa also said that “Inday is forecast to move northwestward and make landfall or pass close to Sakishima Islands in southern Japan before exiting the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) this morning.” It will then move towards the East China Sea and make landfall over the eastern coast of mainland China. 

The bureau then warned that as TCWS No. 2 was hoisted over Itbayat, Batanes, wind speeds range from 62 kph to 88 kph with “minor to moderate threat to life and property.”

It added that the following areas were under TCWS No. 1 where wind speeds range from 39 kph to 61 kph with minimal to minor threat to life and property. The TCWS No. 1 was also lifted from parts of Ilocos Norte and Isabela. 

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Luzon:

• Rest of Batanes
• Babuyan Islands
• Northern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Santa Teresita, Buguey, Camalaniugan, Aparri, Ballesteros, Abulug, Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, Santa Praxedes)

Pagasa also said that the enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat and Inday’s periphery will bring strong to gale-force gusts over the following areas:

• Saturday and Sunday: most of the country
• Sunday: Most of Luzon, most of Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin, and Davao Oriental /das