Florita out but rains to continue

MANILA, Philippines - Typhoon Florita (international name Neoguri) moved out of the Philippine area of responsibility yesterday but state meteorologists said rains will persist over most parts of Luzon and Western Visayas in the next few days due to the southwest monsoon.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the eye of the typhoon was spotted at 610 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes or 180 km southwest of Okinawa, Japan at 9 a.m. yesterday.

According to PAGASA, Florita slightly weakened as it moved closer to southern Japan.

It carried maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 220 kph as of 9 a.m. yesterday.

Forecast to move northward at 20 kph, Florita was projected to be at 200 km northwest of Okinawa last night.

PAGASA weather forecaster Buddy Javier said Florita will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon, which will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms over the provinces of Palawan, Mindoro, Cavite, Batangas, Zambales and Bataan.

The rest of Luzon and Western Visayas will have occasional rains.

PAGASA, meanwhile, warned of big waves in the northern, eastern and southern seaboards of Luzon and the western seaboard of southern Luzon and the Visayas.

Pinoys in Tokyo warned

The Philippine embassy in Tokyo yesterday asked Filipinos in Japan to take precautions and keep in mind the advisory of the Japanese government to minimize the effects the typhoon may cause.

“The typhoon just began to be felt in Japan. Our posts are closely monitoring the situation and are on standby to respond to distress calls from our kababayans,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said.

Meanwhile, at least one person has died due to floods that hit parts of Maguindanao last month, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

In a report released late Monday, the NDRRMC identified the fatality as Randy Ferenal, 28, who was previously reported missing.  – With Alexis Romero, Sheila Crisostomo, Christina Mendez, Pia Lee-Brago, Rainier Allan Ronda