Batanes, Babuyan still under Signal No. 2 as Siony crosses Misanga island

Batanes and Babuyan Islands remain under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 as Severe Tropical Storm Siony crosses Misanga island in Itbayat, Batanes, on Friday morning, state weather forecasters PAGASA said.

Three areas, meanwhile, are under TCWS No. 1, namely:

• northern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Lal-Lo, Allacapan, Santa Teresita, Buguey, Camalaniugan, Aparri, Ballesteros, Abulug, Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, Santa Praxedes),
• the northern portion of Apayao (Santa Marcela, Luna, Calanasan), and
• the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Adams, Pagudpud, Bangui, Dumalneg, Burgos, Vintar, Pasuquin, Bacarra)

In its 8 a.m. bulletin on Friday, PAGASA said Siony will continue moving westward to west-northwestward and pass over the sea off the southern coast of Taiwan within 12 hours.

By Friday evening, Siony — forecast to either maintain its current strength of of 95 km/h or slightly intensify to 100 km/h within the next 24 hours — is expected to be out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

"Afterwards, it will turn southwestward tomorrow morning over the sea to the southwest of Taiwan and move over the West Philippine Sea towards the Paracel Islands area," PAGASA said.

As of 7 a.m., the center of Siony was estimated based on all available data at 30 km east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes. It is moving westward at 20 km/h with maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 115 km/h. 

In a separate interview on Unang Balita, Batanes Governor Marilou Cayco said she already made rounds in the province to check the situation.

Cayco said residents, especially those whose homes are made of light materials, have prepared for the typhoon.

"Mula kaninang 2:30 a.m., napakalakas po ng hangin ho dito at ulan at ang lalaki ho ng alon hanggang ngayon... Umikot na po ako at nakita ko po ang kalagayan ng Basco at mayroong mga nahulog na sanga ng puno pero wala ho akong nadaanan na landslide. Okay naman po kami dito sa ngayon," Cayco said.

She said only a couple was preemptively evacuated in preparation for Siony.  —with Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News