Storm signals up as Vinta intensifies

MANILA, Philippines - Public storm warning signal No. 2 was raised yesterday in several areas as Tropical Storm Vinta threatened to intensify into a typhoon.

In its 5 p.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the storm signal was hoisted over Cagayan, including the Calayan and Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Kalinga and Apayao.

Public storm signal No. 1 was raised over Ilocos Norte, Mountain Province, Abra, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Benguet, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Aurora, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija and Batanes.

PAGASA forecaster Joey Figueroa said Vinta (international name Krosa) became a storm at around 4 a.m. yesterday.

“There is a 50 percent chance it would develop into a typhoon because it is still in the water. In order to qualify as a typhoon the maximum sustained wind should be 118 kilometers per hour (kph). At the moment, it is still at 85 kph,” he said.

Vinta was estimated at 610 kilometers east of Ilagan, Isabela at 4 p.m. yesterday. It has maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph, and is moving west-northwest at 23 kph.

The storm is expected to move toward extreme Northern Luzon and is expected to make landfall in Cagayan between 5 and 6 p.m. today.

If there would be no change in direction and strength, Vinta would only traverse six hours inland before it moves out of the Philippine area of responsibility by tomorrow afternoon at 300 km west of Laoag City.

PAGASA said that traveling by sea along the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon would be risky.

The eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon, along the areas of Camarines provinces, Catanduanes, eastern coast of Albay, Sorsogon and Quezon including Polilio Island would be rough to very rough with waves reaching up to five meters.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) advised the public yesterday, especially those in Northern Luzon areas, to take necessary precautions against flooding and landslides.

“The public and the disaster risk reduction and management council concerned are advised to take appropriate actions,” the NDRRMC said in its advisory. – With Jaime Laude