Storm warning signals lifted as 'Yolanda' pulls away Phl

MANILA, Philippines - Public storm warning signals in several areas affected by typhoon "Yolanda" were lifted as the strongest cyclone to hit the country this year continues to move away from the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) before noon Saturday.

State weather bureau PAGASA said that as of 10 a.m., the typhoon's center was estimated at 549 kilometers west of San Joce, Occidental Mindoro. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 210 kph.

The typhoon was moving west northwest at a speed of 35 kph. It was expected to exit the PAR by "this afternoon," PAGASA said.

Only Puerto Princesa City and areas in Northern Palawan were under public storm warning signal number 1.

Yolanda slammed as a super typhoon into Eastern Visayas early Friday, packing maximum sustained winds of 235 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to nearly 300 kph.

PAGASA said the typhoon made six landfalls and crossed provinces in Visayas and Luzon, particularly in Palawan.

The weather bureau said sea travel is still risky over the seaboards of Northern Luzon, Central Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon and Visayas.