2 storms bring plenty of rain

Tropical Depression “Lando” weakened into a low pressure area (LPA) over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) Monday afternoon, but nonetheless will continue to enhance the monsoon rains along with exiting Typhoon “Kabayan,” now swirling over waters northeast of Batanes as it heads toward Japan.

The LPA was hovering over the West Philippine Sea 110 kilometers southwest of Sinait, Ilocos Sur, at around 2 p.m. Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

Lando would enhance the monsoon rains over Luzon, including Metro Manila, while Kabayan would enhance the monsoon rains over Luzon and the Visayas, Pagasa Supervising Undersecretary Graciano Yumul said.

“So we will continue to experience rains until Friday,” he said.

Office of Civil Defense chief Benito Ramos said slow-moving Lando has killed at least four people even though it did not make landfall.

Ramos said two fishpond workers drowned when their boat overturned north of Manila. Two children also died in a landslide amid fierce rain and wind in a sand quarrying site in Bohol over the weekend.

Kabayan is expected to be over the West Philippine Sea some 1,020 km east-northeast of Basco, Batanes, Tuesday morning and 280 km southeast of Okinawa, Japan, on Thursday morning.

According to Yumul, a new LPA has developed over the Pacific Ocean but was still too far from the Philippine area of responsibility.

Pagasa has alerted residents of Laoag City in Ilocos Norte to prepare for widespread rains from today until Thursday as Lando moves toward the northern tip of the country.

It also advised the disaster risk reduction and management councils in the city and the province to be prepared in the event that Lando intensifies.

In Pangasinan, Dagupan was alert Monday to the possibility that Lando might rip through the coastal city.

“We are ready in case Lando changes direction and hits the city. We are constantly monitoring if it changes its track,” said city administrator Vladimir Mata.

In Manila, an official of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) said the recent storms had pushed back the operation of the Bicol Express train line once again.

PNR general manager Junio Ragragrio said workers were rushing repairs on new damage to the tracks, but the train service should be ready for commercial operations by September. TJ Burgonio; Cristina Arzadon and Yolanda Sotelo, Inquirer Northern Luzon; Paolo G. Montecillo and AP