Siony makes landfall today

MANILA, Philippines — Residents of Northern Luzon should brace for strong winds and heavy rains brought by severe Tropical Storm Siony, which moved slowly yesterday over the Philippine Sea and was forecast to hit or graze the Batanes and Babuyan Islands tonight or Friday morning.

Siony (international name Atsani) was expected to intensify into a typhoon before making landfall in extreme Northern Luzon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

Siony may reach peak winds of 125 kilometers per hour.

The center of Siony is likely to move very close to Batanes and Babuyan Islands between this evening and tomorrow morning.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, tropical cyclone wind signal No. 1 was hoisted over the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan, including Santa Ana, Gonzaga and eastern portion of Babuyan Islands, including Balintang Island, Babuyan Island, Didicas Island and Camiguin Island and their adjoining islets.

The center of Siony was spotted 735 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes as of 4 p.m., packing winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph.

It was forecast to move north slowly or remain almost stationary in the next six hours.

Afterwards, it was expected to move generally west or west-northwest toward the Luzon Strait and extreme Northern Luzon.

Siony is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility tomorrow afternoon or evening.

Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the Department of Health had prepositioned medical supplies in preparation for Tropical Storm Siony.

“For Typhoon Siony, all regions have prepositioned supplies amounting to P31 million worth of supplies, drugs, medicines, health kits, PPEs (personal protective equipment), COVID-19 supplies,” Vergeire noted.

“We also have a buffer stock amounting to P21 million worth of commodities that are also ready for distribution,” she added.

Vergeire also said that their Health Emergency Management Bureau is on standby for possible response. — Mayen Jaymalin