'Kabayan' to exit PHL Friday; floods, landslides threaten west Luzon

Flash floods and landslides continue to threaten the western part of Luzon even as state weather forecasters expect Typhoon Kabayan (Muifa) to finally leave Philippine territory for Japan on Friday. But the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Wednesday that Kabayan, which may pose a threat to Japan, continues to enhance the southwest monsoon. "Si 'Kabayan' napipinto nang lumabas ng Philippine area of responsibility... Medyo kinakabahan ang nasa Japan, yan ang kanilang tinutumbok na lugar. Kung patuloy ang papatakbo ang direction yan maari itong lumabas Friday afternoon," PAGASA forecaster Elvie Enriquez said in an interview on dzBB radio. ('Kabayan' is due to exit the Philippine area of responsibility Friday afternoon and may head for Japan. It poses a threat to Japan.)

Enriquez, however, credited Kabayan for helping dissipate Tropical Depression Lando near Ilocos. She said Lando had weakened into a low-pressure area. She also said the Philippines can consider itself lucky Kabayan did not make landfall. "Buti na lang wala siyang tinamaan anumang bahagi ng kalupaan. Isa pang nakakabuti, hindi niya napalakas si 'Lando.' Hinila niya kaya nasira ang formation ni 'Lando' (It is a good thing 'Kabayan' did not make landfall. It also disrupted 'Lando' instead of strengthening it)," she said. In the meantime, PAGASA said it is keeping watch over a low-pressure area approaching Philippine territory. Enriquez said the LPA may enter Philippine territory and become a tropical depression by Monday next week. It will be codenamed "Mina" if it becomes a cyclone in Philippine territory. Location of Kabayan As of 4 a.m. Wednesday, PAGASA said Kabayan was estimated at 1,055 km east northeast of Basco, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 165 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 200 kph. It is expected to move west northwest at 11 kph. By Wednesday evening, Kabayan was forecast to be 810 km northeast of Basco, Batanes. By Thursday evening, it is expected to be 570 km north northeast of Basco, Batanes or 200 km southwest of Okinawa, Japan. By Friday evening, it is expected to be 530 km north of Basco, Batanes. On the other hand, the LPA that was formerly Lando was estimated at 100 km west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur. Flash floods, landslides Meanwhile, PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. bulletin that the western section of Luzon will experience monsoon rains which may trigger flash floods and landslides. It added that the rest of Luzon will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms while the Visayas and Mindanao will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms. Likewise, PAGASA said strong to gale-force winds are expected to affect the seaboard of Luzon and the Eastern seaboard of Visayas. "Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it said. — RSJ, GMA News