‘Pablo’ slightly weakens

Source: Project Noah | 10:57 am, Dec. 4, 2012

MANILA, Philippines—Typhoon “Pablo” (international name Bopha) has slightly weakened as it traversed Bukidnon, the state weather bureau said Tuesday.

Areas under Signal No. 3 was down to 12. They are Bohol, Siquijor, Southern Cebu, Southern Negros Oriental, Southern Negros Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte, and Camiguin, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

Signal No.2 was declared in Northern Palawan including Calamian Group of Islands and Cuyo Islands, Southern Leyte, Antique, Iloilo, the rest of Cebu including Camotes Island, the rest of Negros Oriental and the rest of Negros Occidental, Surigao del Norte including Siargao, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte includingSamal Is., Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, North Cotabato, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay and Maguindanao.

The rest of Palawan, Aklan, Capiz, Leyte including Biliran, Davao del Sur, Sultan Kudarat, Basilan, Sarangani and South Cotabato were placed under Signal No.1

The storm was last seen 50 kilometers east of Malaybalay, Bukidnon. It packed maximum sustained winds of 160 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 190 kph.

It was moving west northwest at 20 kph.

The storm was seen to be 140 km southwest of Iloilo City by Wednesday morning; 230 km west of Coron, Palawan by Thursday morning and 500 km west of Iba, Zambales by Friday morning.

Pablo, the sixteenth cyclone to enter the Philippine territory, will bring heavy to intense rains within its 60 km diameter.

Fishing boats and other sea vessels were advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao.