Rains to continue as Odette exits

MANILA, Philippines — Rains will persist but residents of eastern Luzon affected by Tropical Storm Odette can expect improved weather as the disturbance started to move away from the country yesterday.

Aldczar Aurelio, weather forecaster at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said Odette was forecast to exit the country last night or early today.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, Batanes, Babuyan Group of Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and Pangasinan remained under tropical cyclone warning Signal No. 1.

These areas can expect rains and winds of up to 60 kilometers per hour in the next 36 hours, Aurelio said.

Cyclone signals in other parts of Luzon were lifted yesterday as Odette moved away from the Philippine area of responsibility. It is expected to move to China today, then Vietnam.

Odette intensified into a severe tropical storm after making landfall in Santa Ana, Cagayan early yesterday.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of Odette was estimated at 205 kilometers west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur, packing winds of 90 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 113 kph.

It is forecast to move west-northwest at a speed of 15 kph.

Aurelio said Odette brought heavy rains and thunderstorms over Southern Luzon, including Metro Manila.

He said the western section of Northern and Central Luzon would still experience moderate to occasionally heavy rains with gusty winds today.

Moderate to occasionally heavy rains would prevail over Zambales and Bataan.

Light to moderate rains and thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of Luzon, including Metro Manila, the Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula until today.

Another cyclone is expected to form by next week, he added.

Passengers stranded, classes suspended

At least 17 boat passengers were stranded in Sta. Ana, Cagayan while classes were suspended due to Odette.

The Philippine Coast Guard North Eastern Luzon District canceled the trip of five boats to Maconacon, Isabela and Calayan Island.

In Isabela, the local government issued a “no sail” order in the coastal towns of Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan and Dinapigue.?A provincial ordinance banning the sale and drinking of liquor was also imposed.

Classes in public and private schools were suspended in Cagayan as recommended by the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office.

The Office of Civil Defense in Cagayan Valley said the 12-hour rainfall caused the swelling of the Cagayan river and its tributaries, particularly Linao river, Lower Abulug, lower Pamplona, Cabicungan, Aunugay, Baua, Palawig and Taboan rivers.

Roads closed 

Road systems in some provinces in the Cordillera Administrative Region were also shut down after  Odette brought rains yesterday.

The Abra-Kalinga road, particularly along the Gacab-Malibcong section in Abra, was closed to vehicular traffic while the Conner-Kabugao road, especially the Badduat and Luttuacan section, was impassable.

11 Indian crew missing

Eleven Indian crew members were missing after their cargo ship sank off Cagayan yesterday, Japan’s coast guard said.

The 33,205-ton Emerald Star with 26 Indian nationals on board sent a distress signal early yesterday as the Hong Kong-registered vessel was sailing some 280 kilometers east of the northern tip of the Philippines, said a statement from the Japanese coastguard, which received the distress signal. – Helen Flores, Raymund Catindig, Victor Martin, Artemio Dumlao, AFP