‘Pablo’ threatens Luzon, storm alerts up–Pagasa

MTSAT ENHANCED-IR Satellite Image as of 4:30 p.m., 08 December 2012

MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon “Pablo” (international codename: Bopha) just refuses to go away as it continues to stay within the Philippine Area of Responsibility, maintaining its strength and now threatening the Ilocos and La Union provinces, the state weather bureau said Saturday.

Signal No. 2 is up in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union as Pablo heads east-northeast at 17 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 130 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in its 5 p.m.bulletin.

Signal No. 1 is up in Cagayan, Calayan group of islands, Babuyan group of islands, Batanes group of islands, Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Benguet, Pangasinan, and Zambales, it said.

Estimated rainfall amount is from 15 to 25 millimeters per hour (heavy – intense) within the 400 km diameter of the typhoon.

Residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under Signal Nos. 1 and 2 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas under Signal No. 2 are alerted against big waves or storm surges generated by this tropical cyclone.

Fishing boats and other sea vessels are advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the western seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon.

The public and the disaster coordinating councils concerned are advised to take appropriate actions and watch for the next bulletin to be issued at 11 p.m. Saturday.

Pablo wrought havoc mostly in the Visayas and Mindanao regions the first time around, claiming over 400 lives and destroying billions of pesos worth of property and crops.

President Benigno Aquino III has declared a state of national calamity to allow the speedy release of relief funds for the devastated areas.