Lando intensifies on way to Luzon

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical Cyclone Lando (international name Kuppo) developed into a severe tropical storm yesterday as it moved closer to Northern Luzon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said the storm is expected to intensify into a typhoon before it hits landmass in the Cagayan-Isabela area on Sunday morning.

He said Lando would start bringing moderate to heavy rains and gustiness over areas in the northeastern section of Northern Luzon tomorrow.

PAGASA was expected to raise public storm warning signal No. 1 over Cagayan and Isabela last night.

Aurelio said Lando is also expected to bring light to moderate rains with gusty winds over Metro Manila this weekend.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the eye of Lando was spotted at 885 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora, packing winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 120 kph.

It was forecast to move west at 17 kph.

Aurelio also warned against big waves in the seaboard of Northern Luzon and eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon due to the storm and the northeast monsoon.

Lando is forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility early next week.

Landslide, flood alert

Disaster management officials in Central Luzon yesterday said they are preparing for the possible landfall of Lando.

This developed as the Mines and Geosciences Bureau issued a landslide and flood advisory in critical areas in Arayat and Magalang in Pampanga; Subic, Castillejos, San Marcelino and Olongapo in Zambales; Carranglan, Bongabon, Laur, Gabaldon and San Jose in Nueva Ecija; and Dingalan, Maria Aurora, San Luis and Casiguran in Aurora.

“We have conducted a pre-disaster risk assessment and have alerted all local disaster management councils to make the necessary actions,” said Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council chair and Office of Civil Defense assistant regional director Nigel Lontoc.

DSWD on alert

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assured the public that it is undertaking preparations for Lando. – Helen Flores, Ding Cervantes, Rainier Allan Ronda