‘Marce’ maintains strength even after 4 landfalls

Pagasa Marce

This satellite image from Pagasa shows the location of tropical storm Marce as of 11:30 a.m. Friday.

Tropical storm Marce maintained its strength midday Friday after making four landfalls since Thursday afternoon.

The storm was last located 90 kilometers west southwest of Roxas City, Capiz, or off the western coast of Northern Antique, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Marce packed maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 110 kph. It moved west northwest at 22 kph.

Marce first made landfall over Siargao Island on Thursday afternoon. It next hit Abuyog, Leyte at around 8 p.m. on Thursday, then at Daanbantayan in Cebu early Friday. Its fourth landfall was over Carles, Iloilo at around 5 a.m. on Friday.

Signal No. 2 was raised over Romblon, Calamian Group of Islands, southern Occidental Mindoro and Southern Oriental Mindoro, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan and northern Antique.

Signal No. 1 was hoisted over northern Palawan including Cuyo Island, rest of Oriental Mindoro, rest of Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island and Masbate including Burias and Ticao Island, Negros Occidental, Rest of Antique and Guimaras.

If it continues its track, it is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility before noon on Sunday or in the afternoon.

The storm will bring moderate to heavy rains within its 300 kilometer radius. Those areas with storm signals were warned against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Sea travel remained risky over the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon and the seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon. IDL/rga

RELATED STORIES

Marce’ intensifies into tropical storm, to exit PAR Sunday

Storm ‘Marce’ strands more than 2,500 in Bicol ports

Read more...