'Huaning' moves toward Taiwan; Batanes still under signal 1

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical depression "Huaning" accelerated northwestward toward Taiwan, even as the Batanes group of islands in extreme northern Luzon remained under storm signal 1 Monday morning. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) also warned of rains that may cause flash floods and landslides in southern Luzon. "The Batanes group of islands will experience rains and gusty winds and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough. The rest of the country will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over the western section of southern Luzon which may trigger flashfloods and landslides," Pagasa said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. Pagasa said that as of 4 a.m., Huaning was 230 km north northeast of Basco, Batanes, with maximum winds of 55 kph near the center. It was moving northwest at 24 kph and is expected to be 415 km north of Basco, Batanes Monday afternoon. By Tuesday morning, it is expected to be 590 km north northwest of Basco, Batanes or 130 km northwest of northern Taiwan. Pagasa said "Huaning" is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rains over the western sections of Luzon and Visayas. - GMANews.TV