'Glenda' intensifies further, to cross Metro Manila before noon

MANILA, Philippines - Typhoon "Glenda" intensified further as it barreled through Bicol region on Tuesday night.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has also included Metro Manila and other provinces in Southern Luzon in the list of areas covered by public storm warning signal number 3.

As of 10:45 p.m., the eye of the typhoon was estimated at 65 kilometers southeast ofAlabat, Quezon or over the Ragay Gulf. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 185 kph.

The typhoon was slowed down as it moves west northwest at 19 kph.

PAGASA said the typhoon "is expected to cross Metro Manila before noon" Wednesday and exit the landmass of Luzon through Zambales province by Wednesday evening. It was forecast to move out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Thursday.

Several areas, majority of which are provinces in Luzon, have been placed under storm alert.

Signal Number 3

Catanduanes
Albay
Sorsogon
Camarines Norte
Camarines Sur
Quezon including Polillo Island and Alabat Island
Marinduque
Laguna
Batangas
Rizal
Burias and Ticao Islands
Cavite
Bulacan
Bataan
Pampanga
Tarlac
Zambales
MetroManila

Signal Number 2

Southern Aurora
Nueva Ecija
Pangasinan
Romblon
Masbate
northern parts of Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island
Northern Samar

Signal Number 1

Rest of Aurora
Quirino
Nueva Vizcaya
Benguet
La Union
Rest of Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro
Biliran
Northern Cebu including Cebu City, Camotes Island, and Bantayan Island
Northern part of Leyte
Eastern Samar
Samar

Malacañang has suspended work in government offices and classes in all school levels in Metro Manila and in areas placed under signal number 2. Government work and classes in all levels in areas under signal number 3 are automatically suspended.

The Supreme Court has also suspended work in courts in Metro Manila. It said the suspension of work in courts outside of Metro Manila are under the discretion of the executive judges.

The Department of Transportation and Communications, meanwhile, reported that more than 200 international and domestic flights have been cancelled due to the bad weather.

Thousands evacuate

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that a total of 145,627 individuals or 33,065 families have been evacuated in provinces in Bicol and in Samar and Tacloban City, whose residents have yet to recover from the devastation of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

The provincial governments of Albay and Camarines Sur have been under state of calamity.

"Glenda" slammed in Rapu-Rapu town in Albay at around 5 p.m. It made another landfall over Tabaco City at around 6:30 p.m.

Provincial governments in Bicol region implemented preemptive evacuation of residents in disaster-prone areas to prevent major casualty count from the typhoon.

There are radio reports that at least three persons have been reported missing after the typhoon struck Albay.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and other agencies are already on alert for the typhoon.

For LIVE updates on the typhoon follow #GlendaUpdates