'Kiko' intensifies further, 4 areas under signal 1

Four areas have been placed under Storm Signal No. 1 as typhoon "Kiko" (Morakot) intensified further while heading for Taiwan Friday morning. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that as of 4 a.m., Kiko was located 340 km north northeast of Basco, Batanes. "The provinces of Batanes, Northern Cagayan, Apayao and Ilocos Norte will experience rains and gusty winds while the rest of Northern and Central Luzon will experience monsoon rains. The rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will have cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms," it said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. Also, Pagasa is also monitoring a low-pressure area (LPA) spotted at 1,670 km east of northern Luzon. Under Storm Signal No. 1 are Batanes, Northern Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte. Pagasa said Kiko packed maximum winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph, and was moving west-northwest at 22 kph. It is expected to be 660 km north northwest of Basco, Batanes or over Southeastern China by Saturday morning. Pagasa said Kiko will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon and bring occasional rains over Luzon and Western Visayas. Further, it said that the surge of the southwest monsoon is expected to affect the western and eastern seaboards of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. "Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it said. - GMANews.TV