TROPICAL depression “Mirasol” made landfall in Casiguran, Aurora early yesterday but there but no significant effect was reported.
Mirasol may exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) this morning.
Meanwhile, a low pressure area outside the PAR developed into a tropical depression yesterday morning.
As of 10 a.m. yesterday, it was some 1,265 km east of Southern Luzon. It was moving west northwestward at 10 kph, packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph. It was forecast to enter PAR late Wednesday or early morning today.
Once it enters PAR, it will be named “Nando,” the country’s 14th tropical cyclone for this year.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the tropical cyclone will continue to intensify while in the Philippine Sea and may reach the typhoon category on Monday.
“Further intensification is not ruled out,” said PAGASA.
“Based on the intensity forecast, hoisting of wind Signal No. 4 over some portions of Northern Luzon is possible,” PAGASA also said.
It said the hoisting of Signal No. 1 in some areas may start as early as Saturday.
“Onset of heavy rains is possible by Sunday or Monday,” added PAGASA.
PAGASA), in a bulletin issued at 5 p.m. yesterday, said 14 areas remained still under signal because of Mirasol.
These were Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, western and northern portions of Isabela, northwestern portion of Quirino, northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, northern portion of Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and northern portion of La Union.
PAGASA said Mirasol, which made landfall at 3:20 a.m., was in the vicinity of Kabugao, Apayao as of 4 p.m. yesterday. It was moving northwestward at 20 kph, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.
Mirasol was forecast to intensify into a tropical storm last night or early morning today while west of Ilocos Norte, said PAGASA.
“However, further intensification to severe tropical storm is not ruled out,” it added.
“With this intensification, hoisting of Wind Signal No. 2 is possible over some portions of Northern Luzon,” PAGASA added.
Mirasol is expected to continue bringing rains to Isabela, Kalinga, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra and Benguet until this afternoon.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has readied over P2.578 million worth of food and non-food relief items and placed on alert its quick response teams in areas along Mirasol’s path, said Social Welfare Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao.
Dumlao said the agency is prepared to assist local government units (LGUs) that will be affected by Mirasol when and where needed.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, in a briefing, said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive is for swift disaster response. – With Jocelyn Montemayor
