'Dindo' exits Phl, new LPA spotted

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday Metro Manila residents could expect an improvement in the weather this weekend with tropical storm “Dindo” already out of the country.

PAGASA weather forecaster Nikos Peñaranda said that while the weather would ease in most parts of the country, there may be isolated rain showers and localized thunderstorms in the afternoon.

However, the relatively good weather would not last long since the agency monitored a low-pressure area (LPA) yesterday 2,000 kilometers from Mindanao.

“If it would maintain its speed and direction, it would be in the Philippine area of responsibility by Monday,” Peñaranda said.

He added that based on their present data, which could still change in the coming days, the LPA could become a tropical cyclone by middle or late next week.  

In its forecast late yesterday afternoon, PAGASA said the southwest monsoon would affect Luzon and Western Visayas, which will experience occasional rains becoming frequent over the western section of Central and Southern Luzon and may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The rest of the country would be partly cloudy with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest to the southeast will prevail over Luzon, Visayas and Western Mindanao, from the northeast to north over the rest of the country.

Coastal waters of the archipelago will be moderate to rough.

Thousands of passengers and motorists along the Cagayan Valley-Ilocos route were stranded after the detour of a bridge in Ilocos Norte was destroyed by floodwater.

Aside from flooding that caused the detour of the Buagaw Bridge in Bangui town, a landslide was also reported along the national highway in Barangay Panzian, Pagudpud, which is the last Ilocos town before Cagayan.

As of yesterday, public works personnel are still clearing the area and doing temporary repairs to decongest traffic along the major route linking the two northern regions.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Ilocos Norte reported that the six fishermen earlier reported missing at the height of Dindo have already returned safe in Barangay Lapaz in Laoag City.

Lightning

Meanwhile, a total of seven people died and five others were wounded after they were struck by lightning separately in various parts of the country, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Two of the fatalities were from San Mateo, Rizal, two from Palawan, one from Biliran, one from Palayan City in Nueva Ecija, and one from Urdaneta, Pangasinan.

The five wounded were from San Mateo.

NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos, however, clarified that the seven fatalities were not related to tropical storm Dindo.

“We have not recorded any casualties related to Dindo. The victims were hit by lighting,” he said in a phone interview.

Ramos urged the public to avoid using electronic gadgets with antenna during thunderstorms. He said if possible, the public should stay indoors when there is lightning.

Ramos said there were no casualties related to Dindo due to the timely preparations of local governments.

“Our countrymen also listened to our warnings. They cooperated with the local officials and our personnel,” he added. – With Alexis Romero, Raymund Catindig, Teddy Molina, Charlie Lagasca