Crising intensifies into severe tropical storm on way to PAR exit

The tropical cyclone Crising (international name: Wipha) intensified on Saturday morning and became a severe tropical storm at 8 a.m., PAGASA said.

Crising is still within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) but is expected to exit it within the day.

Its last location was given as 175 km west northwest of Calayan, Cagayan.

Crising had 100-km per hour winds with gustiness of 125 km/h.

The severe tropical storm is moving west northwestward at 15 km/h.

PAGASA will issue the next tropical cyclone bulletin at 11 a.m.

Crising brought heavy rains, caused flooding and prompted evacuations in many areas overnight. Two people were also reported missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Twenty-six areas were flooded in the country - two in Region 1, three in Mimaropa, two in Region 6, and nineteen in Region 7, according to NDRRMC's 6 a.m. report. Of these, flooding in two areas were reported receding.

A total of 96,791 individuals or 37,598 families in 417 barangays were affected by Crising. The NDRRMC said 3,556 families or 11,689 individuals were staying in evacuation centers. Meanwhile, 1,781 families or 6,012 individuals stayed outside evacuation centers.

One gate of Binga Dam in Benguet was opened to release water, according to PAGASA.

Parts of Metro Manila also got flooded due to overnight rains from the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) which was enhanced by Crising.

Classes for Saturday, July 19, 2025 have been suspended in some areas due to the effects of Crising. —KG, GMA Integrated News