Typhoon ‘Pablo’ further weakens; Signal No. 3 still up in northern Palawan

MTSAT ENHANCED-IR Satellite Image 6 a.m., 05 December 2012

MANILA, Philippines—Typhoon “Pablo” (international name Bopha) has further weakened as it continued to move towards northern Palawan, the weather bureau said early Wednesday.

As of 5 a.m. Wednesday, the eye of Typhoon Pablo was located based on radar, satellite and surface data at 180 kilometers east of Puerto Princesa City, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Pablo was packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph, Pagasa said.

It was forecast to move west northwest at 24 kph, Pagasa added.

Signal No. 3 remained in northern Palawan including Calamian Group of Islands, while the rest of Palawan, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Bohol, Siquijor, Southern Cebu, Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental were under Signal No. 2, Pagasa said.

Meanwhile, Occidental Mindoro incl. Lubang Is., Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Aklan, Capiz, rest of Cebu, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte and Camiguin were placed under Signal No. 1.

Public storm warning signals elsewhere are now lowered, Pagasa said.

According to Pagasa, the sixteenth storm to enter the Philippine territory was expected to be at 440 km northwest of Puerto Princesa City by Thursday morning and by Friday morning, it will be at 780 km West of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro.

Due to the prevailing typhoon, Pagasa warned residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signals against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Likewise, those living in coastal areas under Signal No. 2 and Signal No. 3 are alerted against big waves or storm surges generated by the typhoon.

The weather bureau advised fishing boats and other sea vessels not to venture out into the seaboards of southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. With Frances Mangosing