Typhoon 'Ester' intensifies, moves towards N. Luzon

State weather forecasters on Tuesday morning said Typhoon Ester gained strength and picked up speed, threatening residents in northeastern Luzon. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) last spotted Ester to be some 1,230 kms east of Infanta, Quezon. The typhoon carried maximum sustained winds of 150 kph, some 10 kph more than late last night, with gustiness of up to 185 kph. It picked up its pace and was forecast to move northwest at a speed of 17 kph. Pagasa officials added that an Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) was in effect over Southern Luzon and the Visayas. In its previous bulletin at 10:45 p.m. Monday night, Pagasa predicted Ester to hover within 1,030 kms east of Aurora, about 995 kms northeast of the province the next evening. Come Thursday night, the weather disturbance is expected to be located some 1,040 kms northeast of Cagayan province. Pagasa maintained its advisory to disaster management officials and the general public to take appropriate actions in light of the typhoon.-GMANews.TV