9 Luzon areas under storm Signal No. 2

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NINE areas in Luzon were placed under Signal No. 2 and 17 others under signal No. 1 due to “Florita” which intensified into a tropical storm yesterday, a day before its anticipated landfall.

Florita, as of 4 p.m. yesterday, was some 155 km east of Casiguran, Aurora and moving westward at 20 kph. It was packing maximum sustained with of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

It was forecast to make landfall in the Isabela or Cagayan area this morning.

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The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said placed under Signal No. 2 were Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Ifugao provinces, the eastern portions of Nueva Vizcaya and Abra, and northern and central portions of Aurora.

These areas may experience winds reaching “gale-force in strength,” PAGASA said in a bulletin issued at 5 p.m. yesterday.

Placed under Signal No. 1 were Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Nueva Ecija, Camarines Norte, Babuyan Islands; the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, Abra, and Aurora; eastern portions of Pangasinan, Tarlac, and Bulacan; northeastern portion of Rizal; and northern portions of Laguna and Quezon including Polillo Islands.

“Strong winds (strong breeze to near gale strength) will be experienced within any of the areas,”PAGASA said.

Florita is expected to bring heavy to intense with at times torrential rains today in Cagayan, Isabela, Batanes, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Ilocos Region, PAGASA said.

Aurora, Zambales and Bataan will be experiencing moderate to heavy with at times intense rains while there will be light to moderate with at times heavy rains in the rest of Cagayan Valley and the rest of Central Luzon.

PAGASA said Florita was forecast to move generally westward Monday night before turning west northwestward this morning.

“On the forecast track, the tropical cyclone is forecast to maintain this heading until it makes landfall in the vicinity of the east coast of Isabela or east coast of Cagayan tomorrow early morning,” said PAGASA.

Florita intensified into a tropical storm, from tropical depression, at around 8 a.m. yesterday. It may further intensify into a severe tropical storm prior to landfall, PAGASA said.

“After landfall, there is a potential for slight weakening as Florita crosses the northern portion of Northern Luzon due to frictional effects of the rugged terrain,” PAGASA said.

PAGASA said Florita will traverse several provinces in Northern Luzon after the landfall before emerging over the West Philippine Sea on Tuesday night or early morning Wednesday.

“Outside the Philippine area of responsibility, this tropical cyclone may re-intensify into severe tropical storm and may reach a peak intensity of 95 kph,” said PAGASA.

Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba urged his constituents to be on alert, said provincial administrator Maria Rosario Mamba-Villaflor.

Villaflor represented Mamba during a pre-disaster assessment meeting yesterday.

Villaflor said Mamba has ordered the suspension of classes in the elementary level and work in Cagayan yesterday as the province was already experiencing moderate to heavy rains.

The disaster reduction and management offices in the province are already on red alert.

Rescue teams were asked to focus their attention to flood-prone areas.

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The province has also activated an Incident Management Team.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council asked residents of Cagayan and other provinces that will be affected by Florita to be vigilant.

“The NDRRMC, along with the regional DRRM (disaster risk reduction and management) councils, other agencies of the government and the local government are ready for incidents that will be caused by the storm,” the NDRRMC said in a statement.

“Our reminder to everyone is to remain vigilant, monitor weather updates and heed the advice of authorities,” the NDRRMC also said.

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