Signal No. 1 up over 6 areas as Paeng intensifies into tropical storm

Six areas were under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 as Tropical Depression Paeng intensified into a tropical storm on Thursday morning, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Paeng intensified into a tropical storm at 8 a.m. and “further intensification is likely while moving over warm waters of the Philippine Sea.”

PAGASA said Paeng is forecast to reach severe tropical storm category within 24 hours and may intensify into a typhoon by Saturday.

“The occurrence of rapid intensification in the next 72 hours is not ruled out,” it added.

Under TCWS No. 1 were the following areas:

• Catanduanes
• the eastern portion of Albay (Rapu-Rapu)
• eastern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz, Gubat, Barcelona, Bulusan, Santa Magdalena, Irosin, Juban, Casiguran, City of Sorsogon)
• Eastern Samar
• Northern Samar
• Samar

As of late Thursday morning, Paeng was located 540 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 km per hour and gustiness of up to 80 km/h, moving west northwestward at 10 km/h.

PAGASA said from early Friday morning through evening, moderate to heavy with at times intense rains are expected in the Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains are possible over MIMAROPA, BARMM, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, Quezon, Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Aurora, and the rest of Visayas.

From Friday evening through Saturday, heavy to torrential rains may be experienced over Bicol Region, Northern Samar, and Quezon, PAGASA said.

Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains are also possible over Metro Manila, Western Visayas, Aurora, Bulacan, Mindoro Provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, the eastern portions of Cagayan and Isabela, the rest of Eastern Visayas, and CALABARZON.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains are exptected over Cordillera Administrative Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, BARMM, and the rest of Visayas, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and MIMAROPA.

Due to the shearline trough of Paeng, heavy rains are possible over Visayas, most of Southern Luzon, and the northern portion of Mindanao.

Already, the Philippine Coast Guard has suspended all sea vessel trips to Northern Samar due to Paeng.

“In this regard, all trips en route to Northern Samar are hereby suspended due to Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 being hoisted by PAGASA,” the PCG said.

“Moreover, fishing boat, and other small watercraft are not allowed to venture out at sea,” it added.

For its part, the Department of Social Welfare and Development has pre-positioned over 500,000 food packs in preparation for Paeng.

“As of this morning, mayroon tayong 561,259 family food packs na available o nagkakahalagang P352 million at iba pang food and non-food items na nagkakahalaga ng P689 million na nakapre-position sa iba't ibang strategic locations. Handa po ang DSWD sa pagdating nitong Bagyong Paeng,” DSWD Undersecretary Eduardo Punay said at a public briefing Thursday.

(As of this morning, we have 561,259 family food packs worth P352 million that are available and there are food and non-food items worth P689 million which were already prepositioned in different strategic locations. The DSWD is prepared for this tropical storm.) —Joviland Rita/KBK/RSJ, GMA News