Signal No. 2 still up in Northern Luzon areas as Maymay maintains strength

Wind Signal No. 2 is still hoisted in parts of Northern Luzon as Tropical Storm Maymay (international name Kujira) maintained its strength, the weather bureau said in its 11 a.m. bulletin on Wednesday.

The cyclone packs maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometer per hour (kph) near the center, and gustiness of up to 80 kph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

It was last tracked 185 km west northwest of Bacnotan, La Union, moving northward at 10 kph.

Gale-force winds will be experienced in areas under Signal No. 2: Ilocos Sur, northern and central portions of La Union (Luna, Caba, Santol, Bauang, City of San Fernando, San Juan, Bagulin, Aringay, Bangar, San Gabriel, Burgos, Naguilian, Bacnotan, Sudipen, Balaoan), northwestern portion of Pangasinan (Anda, Bolinao, Bani), southwestern portion of Abra (Manabo, Pidigan, Langiden, Luba, Boliney, Sallapadan, Bucloc, Tubo, Villaviciosa, Pilar, Peñarrubia, San Isidro, San Quintin, Bangued, Bucay, Danglas, La Paz, Tayum), western portion of Mountain Province (Besao, Tadian, Bauko, Sagada, Sabangan) and northwestern portion of Benguet (Mankayan, Kapangan, Kibungan, Sablan, Bakun)

Strong winds will prevail in areas where Signal No. 1 is hoisted: Ilocos Norte, rest of La Union, Pangasinan, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga,, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya; northern portion of Zambales (Candelaria, Santa Cruz, Masinloc, Palauig), northern portion of Tarlac (Mayantoc, San Clemente, Camiling, Santa Ignacia, Gerona, Paniqui, Moncada, San Manuel, Anao, Ramos, Pura), northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Lupao, Cuyapo, Talugtug, Nampicuan, Guimba, Science City of Muñoz, San Jose City, Pantabangan) and northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao)

PAGASA said Maymay's periphery and the southwest monsoon are still causing strong to gale-force gusts across most of Luzon and Visayas, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Norte, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Maguindanao del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Davao Occidental and Davao Oriental.

Gale warning is in effect over the western seaboard of Northern Luzon.

Maymay and the southwest monsoon are also causing heavy rains in most of Luzon.

PAGASA said the storm could possibly make a landfall over Ilocos Sur or La Union within the day.

The cyclone is also forecast to downgrade into a tropical depression and further weaken into a low pressure area by Thursday, it added.

Affected families

The combined effects of Tropical Depression Luis, Tropical Storm Maymay and the southwest monsoon (habagat) have affected around 12,432 families, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said on Wednesday.

In a message to reporters, OCD public information officer Diego Mariano said the 12,432 families, equivalent to 41,979 persons, are residents of Region 1 (Ilocos Region), Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), Region 3 (Central Luzon), the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Region 5 (Bicol Region) and Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula).

So far, OCD has not receive reports of death, injury or missing persons that can be attributed to the weather disturbances.

There are still no reports on agriculture or infrastructure damage.

Mariano said there are around 14 evacuation centers that are currently active because of these weather disturbances, sheltering about 1,821 families, or 5,818 persons.

-Ma. Cristina Arayata/Philippine News Agency