PAGASA says Cebu is safe from Queenie

Cebu is safe from tropical storm "Queenie," which intensified and continued to move toward the provinces of Isabela and Aurora, prompting the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration to raise storm warnings over several Luzon provinces yesterday.

PAGASA Mactan chief Oscar Tabada said "Queenie" was eyed 520 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora, moving west at 24 kilometers per hour and packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center with gusts of up to 120 kph.

Although the storm will only affect Luzon, Tabada said Cebu would experience cloudy skies with rains due to the storm.

"Queenie" is expected to hit the land of Baler on Saturday morning and would cross Northern Luzon on its way to the South China Sea. By Sunday morning, it is forecast to be 310 kilometers west southwest of Iba, Zambales.

Public Storm Warning Signal No. 2, meaning winds of from 60 to 100 kph, is up over southern Isabela, Quirino, Aurora, northern Quezon and Polillo Island. Cagayan, Isabela, Ifugao, Nueva Viscaya, Bulacan, Quezon, Camarines provinces and Catanduanes have been placed under Signal No. 1.

"Queenie" is the second storm to hit the same areas in Luzon in two weeks following super typhoon "Paeng," which left 15 people dead from flashfloods and landslides.

In late September, typhoon "Milenyo" swept through Metro Manila and Central Luzon, leaving at least 230 people dead and missing.

About 20 typhoons and tropical storms lash the country each year. "Queenie," with international name "Chebi," the Korean word for a swallow, is the 17th this season. - Jasmin R. Uy