Signal no. 3 raised in 5 provinces as 'Lando' batters Luzon

MANILA, Philippines - The weather bureau on Sunday night raised Public Storm Warning Signal (PSWS) No. 3 in five provinces as Typhoon Lando (international name Koppu) batters Luzon.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised signal no. 3 in Benguet, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Ilocos Norte and Abra.

Heavy damage is expected to high-risk structures, moderate damage to medium-risk structures and light damage to low-risk structures, PAGASA noted in its latest advisory released at 11 p.m. on Sunday.

The weather bureau said the storm is expected to destroy old, dilapidated residential structures and houses made of light materials in areas under signal no. 3. Majority of houses made of nipa or cogon may be unroofed or destroyed. Houses made of medium-strength materials and some warehouses or bodega-type structures may be unroofed. Widespread disruption of electrical power and communication services is also seen in the areas affected.

Trees and crops are also expected to be heavily damaged.

Public Storm Warning Signal No. 2 is raised in Pangasinan, Zambales, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Kalinga, Apayao and Tarlac. High-risk structures in these areas are expected to incur light to moderate damage.

Meanwhile, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, northern Quezon, Quirino, Aurora, Isabela, Cagayan including Calayan and Babuyan group of Islands, Batanes and Metro Manila are all under signal no. 1. Light to medium damage are expected among high-risk structures.

Occasional rains and gusty winds will be experienced over provinces under signal no. 1 while those under signal no. 2 and 3 will have stormy weather, PAGASA said. 

"Residents in low lying and mountainous areas of the provinces with PSWS are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides," the weather bureau added.

PAGASA said the typhoon continues to move slowly toward Cordillera and Ilocos. The center of the typhoon was located in the vicinity of Tinoc, Ifugao.

Typhoon Lando packs maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph. 

Rainfall amount is estimated to be heavy to intense within the 500-kilometer diameter of the typhoon, which is forecast to move north northwest at 5 kph.

Fisherfolk are also advised not to venture out over the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas.