6 areas under Signal No. 1 as Maymay keeps strength, remains almost stationary

Six areas remained under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 as Tropical Depression Maymay maintained its strength and remained "almost stationary" over the Philippine Sea late Wednesday morning, PAGASA said.

In its 11 a.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA said the areas under Signal No. 1 are:

• Isabela,
• Quirino,
• Nueva Vizcaya,
• Aurora,
• Nueva Ecija,
• the extreme northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta) including Pollilo Islands

Areas under this storm signal, PAGASA said, may experience intermittent rains or winds of 39-61 km/h in at least 36 hours or intermittent rains.

"Strong winds (strong breeze to near gale strength) may be experienced within any of the areas where Wind Signal No. 1 is currently in effect," PAGASA said.

PAGASA said Cagayan, the northern portion of Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Ifugao should expect "moderate to heavy with at times intense rains" within the day.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains, meanwhile, are expected over the rest of Cagayan Valley and Cordillera Administrative Region.

"Under these conditions, scattered to widespread flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides are expected especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazard as identified in hazard maps, and in localities with significant antecedent rainfall," PAGASA said.

As of 11 a.m., Maymay was estimated at 310 km east-northeast of Baler, Aurora or 245 km east of Casiguran, Aurora, packing maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.

PAGASA said Maymay is expected to move slowly westward or west southwestward towards the eastern coast of Central Luzon "and  weaken into a remnant low as it approaches the landmass."

In preparation for Maymay, several areas in Aurora, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Ecija and Quezon provinces have suspended classes for Wednesday.

In Cagayan, one person was reported dead and another one missing due to Maymay, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).

For its part, the Philippine Coast Guard said at least 45 passengers and 17 rolling cargoes were stranded in several ports in the country due to Maymay.

In a maritime safety advisory, the PCG said six vessels and 10 motorbancas were also taking shelter in ports of Real, Burdeos, Dinahican, and Polillo.

Meanwhile, in a separate weather bulletin, PAGASA said the tropical depression spotted outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) is now moving northwestward while maintaining its strength. — with Richa Noriega/KBK/RSJ, GMA News