Kiko slightly weakens; Signal no. 4 still up over Batanes

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 is still raised over Batanes on Saturday as Typhoon Kiko (international name: Chanthu) slightly weakened while moving over the coastal waters of Itbayat, Batanes, PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. bulletin.

Under TCWS No. 4, very destructive typhoon-force winds are prevailing or are expected within 12 hours, PAGASA said.

Wind signals were also raised over the following areas:

TCWS No. 3:

• The northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands

TCWS No. 2

• the rest of Babuyan Islands

TCWS No. 1

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

Typhoon Kiko made landfall over Ivana, Batanes earlier in the day.

The typhoon is forecast to pass very close to Itbayat, Batanes within the next 3 hours, PAGASA said.

Based on the forecast track, Kiko will move generally northward beginning Saturday night and pass over the sea east of Taiwan (without ruling out the possibility of landfall).

PAGASA added that Kiko is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility Sunday evening or on Monday early morning.

As of 10 a.m., the center of the eye of Kiko was located based on all available data over the coastal waters of Itbayat, Batanes (20.6°N, 121.8°E).

It has maximum sustained winds of 205 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 250 km/h, and central pressure of 925 hPa.

It is moving north northwestward at 15 km/h, strong winds or higher extend outwards up to 250 km from the center. —Jamil Santos/KG, GMA News