Slower Ineng maintains strength

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm Ineng maintained its strength while slightly slowing down, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

At 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of Ineng was estimated based on all available data at 670 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph. It is moving west northwest at 10 kph.            

PAGASA said moderate to occasionally heavy rains were experienced last night over Catanduanes.

Light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains prevailed over Metro Manila, Ilocos region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Mindoro provinces, northern Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo Islands, Antique, Aklan, and the rest of Bicol region.            

“Today, moderate to heavy rains may be experienced over Batanes, Cagayan (including Babuyan Group of Islands), Ilocos Norte and Apayao. Light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains may prevail over Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Cavite, Batangas, Mindoro Provinces, northern portions of Palawan (including Calamian and Cuyo Islands), and the rest of Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley,” PAGASA said in its 5 p.m. bulletin forecast.

The state weather bureau warned residents in these provinces, especially those living in areas identified to be highly susceptible to floods and rain-induced landslides, to take precautionary measures.

It also urged them to coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices and to continue monitoring for updates.           

Though PAGASA said Ineng remains less likely to make landfall in the country, its intensification into a severe tropical storm in the next 24 hours is possible.           

PAGASA also cautioned that sea travel is risky over the eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao due to potentially rough sea conditions.            

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 has been raised over Bataan, Cagayan including Babuyan islands, Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Northern Abra and Ilocos Norte.