As ‘Emong’ exits, ‘Fabian’ promptly follows it in

MANILA, Philippines—As Tropical Storm “Emong” was leaving the country, a new weather disturbance was coming in Thursday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said a low pressure area in the West Philippine Sea had turned into a tropical depression named “Fabian,” the sixth cyclone to affect the country.

Packing peak winds of 55 kilometers per hour, the eye of the depression was spotted 270 km west of Iba, Zambales, on Thursday afternoon. It was predicted to move north-northwest at 11 kph.

In northern Palawan, a boat carrying 19 people sank off the town of Dumaran Thursday morning due to strong waves brought by Fabian, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.

All 19 passengers, mostly Dumaran government employees, were rescued by fishermen and the municipal government’s quick reaction team, said Lt. Antolin Cayabo, spokesperson of the PCG detachment on Cuyo Island.

Cayabo said they received a call from one of the passengers that the outrigger, the Salve, had developed engine trouble and had stalled.

In Busuanga, six flights to and from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were cancelled on Thursday due to Fabian.

Cebu Pacific flights 5J-531 and 5J-539 to Busuanga and their returns trips were called off, said the Manila International Airport Authority, the Naia operator.

Also cancelled was Air Philippines Express flight 2P-033 to Busuanga and its return flight.

Cebu Pacific cancelled a flight from Caticlan earlier in the day due to the weather.

But like a couple of the earlier weather disturbances, Pagasa said it expected Fabian to have “no direct effect on any part of the country.”

“However, it will enhance the southwest monsoon which will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms over the western section of Luzon, particularly Palawan,” said the weather bureau in an advisory.

By Friday, Fabian is expected to be 350 km west of Sinait, Ilocos Norte, and out of the country’s area of responsibility by Saturday morning, Pagasa said.

It said that on Friday, the Ilocos, Central Luzon and Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) regions will experience monsoon rains.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest to the south will prevail throughout the archipelago and coastal waters will be moderate to rough, Pagasa said. With reports from Redempto D. Anda, Inquirer Southern Luzon, and Jerome Aning