'Santi' slows down, out of PAR by Sunday afternoon

MANILA, Philippines - Typhoon Santi's exit from the Philippines may be slightly delayed as the cyclone slowed down while moving over to the West Philippine Sea on Saturday afternoon.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that as of 4 p.m., the typhoon's eye was estimated at 200 kilometers west of Iba, Zambales.

It was still moving west at a 15 kph.

PAGASA said that instead of Sunday morning, the typhoon may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by the afternoon.

Public storm warning signal number 1 remains hoisted over Zambales and Bataan provinces.

The weather bureau said the estimated rainfall amount within the typhoon's 400 kilometer diameter was 5 to 15 millimeters per hour or moderate to heavy.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has confirmed five fatalities from the typhoon in Central Luzon. Three of the fatalities were recorded in Nueva Ecija and the other two were residents of Pampanga.

The typhoon's strong winds and heavy rains damaged and destroyed ricefields in Nueva Ecija and Bulacan. Hundreds of residents were also displaced due to floods caused by the rains spawned by the cyclone.