Over 1,400 evacuated as ‘Auring’ heads out of PH

MANILA, Philippines—Tropical Storm “Auring” (international name Sonamu) continued to head out of the country and is expected to exit the Philippine territory Saturday morning, the state weather bureau said Friday.

Only southern Palawan remained under Signal No. 1 as the first weather disturbance to hit the country this year maintained its course, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

Nearly 800 families or 1,405 persons were evacuated in Valencia City, Bukidnon, Dipolog City and Palawan due to Auring, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said in its 6 a.m. bulletin.

The weather disturbance also prompted cancellation of several domestic flights on Thursday.

Flooding was also reported in parts of Northern Mindanao as “Auring” dumped its rains.

The storm was last seen 330 kilometers southwest of Puerto Princesa City, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 80 kph.

It was still moving west at 28 kph.

By Friday morning, Auring will be 930 km southwest of Puerto Princesa City or outside the Philippine area of responsibility, the Pagasa forecast said.

Residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under Signal No.1 were alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.

“Auring” will bring moderate to heavy intense rains within its 350 km diameter.

Fishing boats and other small seacraft were still advised not to venture out into the seaboards of northern and central Luzon and the western seaboards of Southern Luzon due to the northeast monsoon.