'Ineng' grazes Phl northern coast

MANILA, Philippines - Typhoon “Ineng” (international name: “Ma-on”) made a quick trip to the Philippines yesterday, grazing the northern coast, the state weather bureau said.

Ineng, packing winds of 185 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 220 kph, entered the Philippine area of responsibility at 11:30 a.m. yesterday but left the country late afternoon.

Graciano Yumul, supervising undersecretary of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said the eye of Ineng was spotted at 1,210 kms east-northeast of Basco, Batanes as of 4 p.m. yesterday.

Ineng was moving north-northwest toward southern Japan at 24 kph.

It was predicted to be 1,300 kms northeast of Basco or 620 kms east-northeast of Okinawa, Japan last night.

Yumul said Ineng was expected to enhance the southwest monsoon that would bring occasional rains over the Visayas and Mindanao.

He said the country would experience cloudy skies with light rains in the next three days.

The weather bureau also issued gale warning over northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of central and southern Luzon.

“Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out to sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” it said.

PAGASA said Ineng had absorbed part of the winds of tropical depression “Hanna,” which left the Philippine territory Saturday.

Ineng is the ninth tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the third weather disturbance this month.