‘Auring’ makes landfall in southern Palawan

MANILA, Philippines—Tropical Storm “Auring” has maintained its strength as it made landfall in the southern tip of Palawan early Friday, the weather bureau said.

As of 4 a.m., the center of Auring was located 210 kilometers southwest of Puerto Princesa City, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in a bulletin.

It was packing maximum winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph, Pagasa said.

It was forecast to move west at 28 kph, Pagasa added.

Public storm warning signal No. 2 remains hoisted over southern Palawan while signal No. 1 continues to persist over the rest of the province.

Pagasa said Auring was expected to be at 470 km southwest of Puerto Princesa City or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Friday afternoon.

The first storm to hit the country this year will bring heavy to intense rains within its 300 km diameter.

The weather bureau alerted residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signal Nos. 1 and 2 against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Likewise, those living in coastal areas under signal No. 2 are alerted against big waves or storm surges generated by this tropical storm.

Pagasa also advised fishing boats and other small seacraft not to venture out into the eastern seaboards of northern and Central Luzon and the western seaboards of Southern Luzon due to the northeast monsoon. Frances Mangosing, INQUIRER.net