Pagasa: Signal No. 1 up in metro, 39 others

Satellite image as of October 25, 2012, 7:13 AM. Screengrab from https://noah.dost.gov.ph/

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila and nearly 40 areas were placed under storm signal as tropical storm Ofel (international name Son-Tinh) made landfall in the southwestern part of Masbate and Sibuyan Island Thursday morning, the state weather bureau said.

Signal No. 2 was raised in Masbate, Ticao Islands, Romblon, Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Lubang Island, Marinduque, Batangas, Aklan, Antique, Iloilo, Capiz, Guimaras and northern part of Negros Occidental, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

Aside from Metro Manila, also under Signal No. 1 are:

* Bataan, Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal;

* Cavite, Laguna, southern part of Quezon Province, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes;

* Albay, Sorsogon, Burias Island, Calamian Group of Island, Cuyo Island;

* Leyte Provinces, Samar Provinces, Cebu, Camotes Island, rest of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.

The storm, last seen over Sibuyan Island in Romblon, was packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph, Pagasa said.

It is forecast to move west northwest at 20 kph, Pagasa added.

Storm signals elsewhere have been lowered.

The rest of the country will be cloudy with moderate to heavy rainshowers or thunderstorms which may trigger flashfloods and landslides, Pagasa said.

Moderate to intense rains were seen within 450 km of the storm.

Fishing boats and other small seacraft were advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas due to Ofel and the northeast monsoon.

Residents living in mountainous and low-lying areas under public storm signals are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.