‘Helen’ exits

Storm signals have been lifted in Batanes province as Typhoon “Helen” (international name: “Megi”) exited the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday.

The weather bureau’s final typhoon advisory for Helen on Wednesday morning placed the eye of the typhoon at 515 kilometers north-northwest of Basco, Batanes, lifting the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1 over the Batanes Group of Islands, which is still reeling from the effects of Typhoon “Ferdie” (international name: “Meranti”) from two weeks ago.

Even as Megi already made landfall in Taiwan on Tuesday, a storm signal had remained over Batanes, as rainfall was moderate to heavy within the 800-kilometer diameter of the typhoon, which was packing maximum sustained winds of up to 130 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, and gustiness of up to 200 kph.

Based on the situation report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), however, it was residents of Bulacan that most felt the effects of Helen.

A total of 356 families or 1,559 persons had been evacuated in Bulacan due to flooding brought by southwest monsoon rains enhanced by Helen, the NDRRMC said.