‘Pablo’ moves away from PH

MANILA, Philippines—Typhoon “Pablo” (international name Bopha) maintained its strength as it moved away from the Philippines Wednesday afternoon, the state weather bureau said.

As of 4 p.m., the most powerful storm to enter the country this year was last located 110 kilometers northwest of Roxas, Northern Palawan, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

It packed maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

The typhoon was moving west northwest at 15 kph.

Only four areas remained under storm signals.

Signal No. 3 remained in Northern Palawan  and Calamian Group of Islands, while Signal No. 2 was still up over the rest of Palawan.

Signal No. 1 was hoisted in Occidental Mindoro.

Pablo will bring heavy to intense rains within its 400 km diameter.

Fishing boats and other sea vessels were advised not to venture out into the Seaboards of Luzon and Western Visayas.  

Pablo was forecast to be 510 km West of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro by Thursday afternoon and  700 km West of Subic, Zambales or  outside the Philippine territory by Friday afternoon.

Originally posted at 2:56 p.m.