Super typhoon 'Florita' gains more strength

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Florita has intensified further as it continues to move away from the Philippines, the state weather bureau said before Monday noon.

In its severe weather bulletin issued at 11 a.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Florita now bears maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of 230 kph.

The eye of the typhoon was located at 570 kilometers east of Basco Batanes and was forecast to move north northwest at 20 kph.

PAGASA has still not placed any part of the country under a public storm warning signal.

It warned, however, that Florita will enhance the southwest monsoon or "habagat" which will bring moderate to occassionally heavy rains and thunderstorms over Panay, Mindoro, Palawan, Cavite, Batangas, Zambales and Bataan.

The rest of Luzon and Visayas will have occasional rains. Sea travel remains risky over the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon and seaboards of Visayas.

PAGASA said Florita is expected to be at 600 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes and outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Tuesday morning.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center of the US Department of Defense and some weather websites has classified "Florita" as a super typhoon, a category not officially used by PAGASA.