Milenyo slows down; Signal No. 3 up in Metro Manila

Typhoon "Milenyo" (international codename: Xangsane) has slowed down slightly even state weather forecasters placed Metro Manila under public storm signal number 3. As of 5 a.m. Thursday, Milenyo was located 80 km west southwest of Daet, Camarines Norte or 150 km southeast of Metro Manila with maximum sustained winds of 130 kph near its center and gustiness of up to 160 kph. Late Wednesday evening, Malacanang suspended work in government for Thursday in the Philippine capital and nearby provinces, except for agencies involved in emergency and disaster operations. Classes in all levels in Metro Manila and nearby provinces were announced suspended as early as Wednesday afternoon. Apart from Metro Manila, other areas under signal number 3 are: the Camarines provinces, Burias Island, Romblon, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro Lubang Island, Batangas, Quezon province, Polillo Island, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan. Areas under signal number 2 are: Catanduanes, Albay, Occidental Mindoro, Pampanga, Bataan, Nueva Ecija and Aurora. Signal number 1 remains hoisted in Masbate, Ticao Island, Sorsogon, Zambales, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Southern Isabela, Northern Samar, Capiz, Iloilo, Antique, Aklan, Calamian Group and Cuyo Islands. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) advised residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signals to be on alert against flashfloods and landslides, respectively, while those living in coastal areas under storm signals 2 and 3 were advised to seek higher grounds due to possible storm surge. By Friday morning, Pagasa said Milenyo is expected to be 210 km west northwest of Metro Manila and 500 km west of Iba, Zambales by Saturday morning. -GMANews.TV