MANILA, Dec. 8 (PNA) — Typhoon “Pablo” has threatened to make a fifth landfall in the Ilocos Region after hitting most parts of Mindanao and Visayas that left hundreds of people dead and missing.
Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecaster Meno Mendoza said that as of 4 p.m. Saturday, the eye of typhoon “Pablo (International code name Bopha) was located at 230 km West of Sinait, Ilocos Sur (17.5°N,118.3°E) with maximum sustained winds of 130 kph and gustiness of up to 160 kph.
At least three provinces in Ilocos region were placed under public storm warning signal no.2 as “Pablo” maintained its strength.
Mendoza said that PAGASA hoisted Storm Signal No. 2 (61-100 kph winds) over the provinces of Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte and La Union.
Storm signal no. 1 (30-60 kph winds) was hoisted over Cagayan, Calayan group of Islands, Babuyan group of Islands, Batanes group, of Islands, Abra,Apayao, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Benguet, Pangasinan and Zambales.
Mendoza said that Pablo was expected to make a landfall in areas of Ilocos Norte on Sunday morning.
“Inaabisuhan po natin ang ating mga kababayan sa Ilocos Norte na maghanda at mag-ingat dahil inaasahan maglandfall si Pablo ng Sunday morning around 8, 10 or 11 a.m.,” Mendoza said.
Earlier, Pablo made landfalls four times, the first was over Baganga town in Davao Oriental last Tuesday at around around 4:40 a.m. then made its second landfall in Siquijor province at around 4:30 p.m. After an hour, the typhoon made its third landfall in southern part of Negros Oriental and the fourth landfall over Roxas town in northern Palawan at around 8 a.m. last Wednesday.
Mendoza said Pablo gained speed and was forecast to move East Northeast at 17 kph. With its current speed, it is expected to be out in Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning.
Expected rainfall within the 400-km diameter of the typhoon, is 15 to 25 millimeters per hour, which is still classified as “heavy to intense.”
The weather agency advised the residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signal 2 and signal 1 to be on alert against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas under public storm warning signal 2 are alerted against big waves or storm surges generated by this tropical cyclone.
PAGASA also advised owners of fishing boats and other small seacraft not to venture out into the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the western seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon.
Weathermen also said that typhoon “Pablo” was expected to be at 50 km North of Aparri, Cagayan by Sunday afternoon; 320 km East of Basco, Batanes by Monday afternoon; and 550 km Northwest of Basco, Batanes by Tuesday afternoon.
In its advisory, PAGASA said the provinces of Ilocos and La Union will experience stormy weather with rough to very rough seas while the provinces of Pangasinan, Cagayan, including Babuyan and Calayan group of islands, Batanes group of islands and region of Cordillera will have rains with gusty winds with moderate to rough seas.
The rest of Cagayan Valley region will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms.
Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy with brief rain showers or thunderstorms.
Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast to east will prevail over the rest of Cagayan Valley region and coming from the east to southeast over the rest of Luzon and Eastern Visayas. The coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.
Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the east to southeast with slight to moderate seas. (PNA)
RMA/CLTC