‘Ineng’ maintains strength; Batanes under Signal No. 3

Typhoon "Ineng" (international code name Krosa) maintained its strength and continued to move westward towards Southern Taiwan Friday morning. In its 5 a.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said "Ineng" was 340 kms east of Basco, Batanes as of 4 a.m. "Those living in coastal and low-lying areas and near mountain slopes are advised to take all the necessary precautions against possible big waves, flashfloods and landslides," it said. Pag-asa hoisted Storm Signal 3 over the Batanes Group of Islands, and Signal 2 on Cagayan and Babuyan Islands. Signal No. 1 was hoisted over Isabela, Kalinga, Apayao, Abra, Ilocos Norte, and Northern Aurora. It warned residents in those areas against big waves generated by "Ineng." Pag-asa said "Ineng" packed maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 210 kph, and was moving west-northwest at 15 kph. It said "Ineng" is due 170 kms north-northeast of Basco, Batanes by Saturday morning, and 450 kms north-northwest of Basco, Batanes or 110 kms southwest of Taipei, Taiwan Sunday morning. Pag-asa said "Ineng" will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon, which will bring rains over Luzon and Visayas particularly the western sections. Batanes and Cagayan including Babuyan will experience stormy weather. Isabela, Quirino, Kalinga, Apayao, Abra, Ilocos Norte and Northern Aurora will have rains and gusty winds and the coastal waters along these areas will be rough to very rough. Visayas and the rest of Luzon will have cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming frequent rains over the western sections, which may trigger flashfloods or landslides. Mindanao will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the north to northwest will prevail over the rest of Northern Luzon and coming from the southwest over Visayas and the rest of Luzon. Coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the southwest with slight to moderate seas. - GMANews.TV