Signal no. 3 in Batanes; no classes in 9 areas

State weather forecasters placed Batanes under Storm Signal no. 3 as super-typhoon "Egay" (Sepat) continued to accelerate northwestward towards the Batanes-Taiwan area Friday. Classes in all levels remain suspended in Metro Manila and eight Luzon provinces on Friday. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pag-asa) said "Egay" will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rains over Luzon and Western Visayas. Placed under Storm Signal 3 were the Batanes Group of Islands in extreme Northern Luzon, which will experience winds of up to 185 kph. Under Storm Signal 2 (60 to 100 kph winds) were the Babuyan Group of Islands, also in extreme North Luzon. Under Storm Signal 1 were Cagayan, Isabela, Northern Aurora, Kalinga, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, and Abra. As of 4 a.m. Friday, Pag-asa estimated "Egay" to be 270 kms southeast of Basco, Batanes or 290 kms northeast of Aparri, Cagayan. "Egay" packed maximum sustained winds of 215 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 250 kph, and was moving northwest at 19 kph. It was forecast to be 190 kms north-northeast of Basco, Batanes or in the vicinity of Southern Taiwan by Saturday morning. By Sunday morning, it is expected to be in the vicinity of Southeastern China. The Department of National Defense and the National Disaster Coordinating Council on Thursday night announced that Friday classes in all levels in Metro Manila and eight provinces in Luzon are suspended due to rains spawned by Super Typhoon Egay. The other areas covered by typhoon signals are automatically suspended in the proper level, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. There was no announcement on the suspension of work in government offices. "We must make it clear that the decision to suspend classes was due to the monsoon rains [brought about by "Egay"]," Teodoro said.State weather forecasters placed Batanes under Storm Signal 3 as super-typhoon "Egay (Sepat)" continued to accelerate northwestward towards the Batanes-Taiwan area Friday. Pag-asa warned residents along coastal areas under storm signals against big waves and storm surges generated by "Egay." It also warned those living in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes to take all the necessary precautions against possible flashfloods and landslides. Batanes and Babuyan Group of Islands will have stormy weather. Cagayan, Isabela, Kalinga, Northern Aurora, Apayao, Ilocos Norte and Abra will experience rains and gusty winds and the coastal waters will be rough to very rough. The rest of Luzon and Western Visayas will have occasional rains. The rest of the country will be mostly cloudy with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over Visayas and the rest of Luzon and the coastal waters will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the Southwest with slight to moderate seas. - GMANews.TV