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Tropical storm “Karen” (international name: Sakira) continued to intensify midday Friday as it neared Catanduanes-Camarines area.
The provinces of Catanduanes and Camarines Sur were placed under Signal No. 2.
READ: Karen at full impact Sunday, threatens Luzon
Signal No. 1 was raised over Camarines Norte, Albay, Sorsogon, Quezon including Polillo Island, Aurora, Isabela, Quirino, Laguna, Rizal, Marinduque, Burias Island and Northern Samar, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.
READ: Signal No. 1 up over Catanduanes as ‘Karen’ gains speed
Karen packed maximum sustained winds of up to 85 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 105 kph, the Pagasa said.
The storm was last spotted at 260 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes. It was moving west northwest at 9 kph.
Signal No. 1 may be raised over Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya in the afternoon, Pagasa said.
Fishermen and those with small vessels were advised to avoid the eastern seaboard of Eastern Samar. RAM/rga