'Ondoy' moves closer to Catanduanes - Pagasa

Tropical depression "Ondoy" maintained its strength as it moved closer to Catanduanes province in Bicol Thursday afternoon, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administraton (Pagasa) said. Pagasa, in its 5 p.m. bulletin, said "Ondoy" was estimated at 330 km east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes as of 2 p.m. It packed maximum winds of 55 kph near the center and is forecast to move west northwest at 11 kph. "Southern Luzon and Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming frequent rains over the Western section which may trigger flashfloods and landslides," Pagasa said. Pagasa added that the rest of the country will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. Ondoy is the 15th tropical cyclone to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this year. Ahead of it was cyclone "Nando" which came on the heels of typhoon "Maring," which claimed 13 lives. Another destructive typhoon which recorded a double-digit death toll was typhoon "Kiko" with 10 deaths. In a report on September 12, Pagasa warned that six more cyclones will pass through the Philippine area of responsibility before the year ends. - GMANews.TV