17 areas under storm alert as 'Mario' intensifies

MANILA, Philippines - Seventeen areas in Luzon were placed under storm alert as Tropical Storm "Mario" intensified further on Friday morning.

Weather bureau PAGASA said that as of 4 a.m., the center ofthe storm was estimated at 212 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora.

It was packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour and gust of up to 100 kph. The storm was also moving west northwest at a speed of 22 kph.

Public storm warning signal No. 2:

Cagayan including Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands
Isabela
Kalinga
Apayao
Mt. Province
Abra
Ilocos Norte

Public storm warning signal No. 1:

Aurora
Quirino
Nueva Vizcaya
Ifugao
Benguet
Ilocos Sur
La Union
Batanes Group of Islands

PAGASA said the storm may make landfall in Cagayan tonight and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Monday morning.

It said that the estimated rainfall amount within the storm's 350-kilometer diameter is moderate to intense.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will experience heavy rains and thunderstorms due to the combined effect of "Mario" and the southwest monsoon, the weather bureau added.

As of this writing, several areas in Metro Manila have been reported flooded.