More provinces under Signal No. 5 as ‘Yolanda-like Lawin’ nears
More provinces were placed under Signal No. 5 as Supertyphoon “Lawin” (international name Haima) approached Northern Luzon on Wednesday.
Signal No. 5 was raised over Cagayan, Isabela, Kalinga and Apayao, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its 5 p.m. update.
“Ang mararanasan nila ay delubyo po at hindi nalalayo sa pinsala ng ‘Yolanda’ (What we will experience is a deluge no different from the damage wrought by Yolanda),” weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said in a televised press briefing.
These areas will also be affected by the following storm signals:
Signal No. 4: Ilocos Norte, Abra, Ilocos Sur, Mt. Province, Ifugao and Calayan group of islands
Article continues after this advertisementSignal No. 3: La Union, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and Northern Aurora
Article continues after this advertisementSignal No. 2: Batanes group of islands, Pangasinan, rest of Aurora, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, northern Zambales and northern Quezon including Polillo Islands
Signal No. 1: Rest of Zambales, Bulacan, Bataan, Pampanga, Rizal, rest of Quezon, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay and Metro Manila
Lawin maintained its strength of 225 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 315 kph as it moved west northwest at 25 kph.
As of 4 p.m., it was last seen at 275 kilometers east southeast of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.
Aurelio said the supertyphoon would make landfall between Isabela and Cagayan around midnight.
It is expected to cross Apayao and Ilocos Norte. If it continues its track, it will exit the Philippine area of responsibility by midnight to early Friday.
Storm surges of up to 5 meters or more were seen over the coast of Cagayan including Calayan group of islands, Isabela, Northern Aurora and Ilocos Norte.
The weather forecaster urged residents in areas prone to landslides, floods and storm surges to evacuate to safer grounds.
Sea travel remained risky over the eastern seaboard of southern Luzon and the northern and eastern seaboards of Samar.
Lawin also grew bigger at a diameter of 800 kilometers.
Heavy to intense rains are expected in Isabela, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Benguet and Mt. Province starting Wednesday.
Improved weather in the country should be seen on Friday and Saturday, Aurelio said.
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