‘Pablo’ slows down as it hovers over Palawan

Residents repair their damaged homes after Typhoon Bopha made landfall in Compostela Valley in southeastern Philippines Tuesday Dec. 4, 2012. Typhoon Bopha (local name Pablo), one of the strongest typhoons to hit the Philippines this year, barreled across the country’s south on Tuesday, killing at least 40 people and forcing more than 50,000 to flee from inundated villages. AP /Karlos Manlupig

MANILA, Philippines—A weakened Typhoon Pablo (international name Bopha) has slowed down as it hovered over northern Palawan, the state weather bureau said Wednesday.

As of 10 a.m. bulletin, Pablo was last located 120 kilometers northeast of Puerto Princesa City, with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

It was moving northwest at 19 kph.

Signal No. 3 was raised over northern Palawan and Calamian Group of Islands,  while the rest of Palawan was under Signal No. 2.

The areas of Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, including Lubang Island, were under Signal No. 1, Pagasa said.

Pablo was expected to bring heavy to intense rains within its 400 km diameter.

Pagasa warned residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signals against possible flashfloods and landslides. Also, those living in coastal areas under Signal No.3 and 2 were alerted against big waves or storm surges.

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