'Glenda' gains speed, batters Metro Manila with strong winds

MANILA, Philippines - Typhoon "Glenda" will hit Metro Manila Wednesday morning, ahead of weather bureau PAGASA's earlier forecast, as the cyclone gathered speed as it crosses Southern Luzon.

PAGASA said that as of 4:15 a.m., the eye of the typhoon was located at the vicinity of Nagcarlan, Laguna or 70 kilometers southeast of Metro Manila.

The typhoon maintained its strength, packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 185 kph. It was moving west northwest at a speed of 26 kph.

PAGASA said the typhoon is "expected to cross Metro Manila early this morning and exit landmass via Zambales by noon today."

It was expected to be out of the Philippine Area of Responsiblity already by Thursday morning.

PAGASA said Metro Manila and provinces in Luzon under public storm warning signal number three will be hit by winds of 101 to 185 kilometers per hour as "Glenda" crosses.

The provinces under Signal Number 3 are Pangasinan, Zambales, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Bataan, Quezon including Polillo and Alabat Island, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Marinduque, northern part of Mindoro provinces including Lubang Island.

PAGASA said residents in these areas should expect:

• Heavy damage to agriculture
• Some large trees uprooted
• Majority of nipa and cogon houses unroofed or destroyed considerable damage to structures of light to medium construction
• Moderate to heavy disruption of electrical power
• and communication services
• Travel by land, sea and air is dangerous

Areas within the 500 kilometer diameter of the typhoobn should also expect "heavy to intense" rainfall.

Public storm warning signal number 2 remains hoisted over La Union, Benguet, Nueva Ecija, Southern Aurora, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Burias Island, Romblon, rest of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro.

Signal number one is placed over Ilocos Sur, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, rest of Aurora, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Ticao Island and Masbate.