Typhoon 'Queenie' puts N, C Luzon in 'extreme danger'

Typhoon "Queenie" intensified into a super-typhoon Saturday, posing what state weather forecasters called an "extreme danger" to Northern and Central Luzon. As of 4 a.m., "Queenie" was spotted off the coast of Casiguran, Aurora, with maximum sustained winds of 195 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph. It was moving west at 22 kph. Placed under Storm signal 4 (more than 185 kph winds) were Aurora, Quirino and Isabela, which were among the provinces hit hardest by "Paeng" a fortnight ago. "Queenie" was expected to make landfall in the vicinity of Casiguran, Aurora Saturday morning then cross Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pangasinan on its way out into the South China Sea. By Sunday morning it was expected to be 210 kms west-northwest of Iba, Zambales; and 630 kms west of Iba, Zambales Monday morning. Placed under Storm Signal 3 were Southern Cagayan, Benguet, La Union, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Northern Zambales, Northern Quezon, Polillo Island, and northern Bulacan. Signal 2 was hoisted over the rest of Cagayan, Apayao, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Abra, Ilocos Sur, Rest of Zambales, Pampanga, rest of Bulacan, Rizal, rest of Quezon, and Camarines Norte. Signal 1 was up over Batanes, Calayan Group of Islands, Ilocos Norte, Bataan, Camarines Sur, Laguna, Cavite, and Metro Manila. "Residents in areas under Public Storm Warning Signals 1, 2, 3 and 4 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides while residents along the eastern coast of Luzon are advised to be alert against storm surge or big waves generated by this typhoon," Pag-asa said. In Bicol, at least 300 passengers were stranded after the Coast Guard barred travel from ports. - GMANEws,Tv