9 areas under Signal No. 2 as Maring intensifies into severe tropical storm

Nine areas remained under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 as Maring intensified into severe tropical storm late Monday morning, according to PAGASA.

Based on PAGASA's 11 a.m. update, those under TCWS No. 2, which could experience "damaging gale to storm-force winds within 24 hours," are:

• Batanes,
• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands,
• the northern portion of Isabela (Palanan, Divilacan, Maconacon, Ilagan City, Tumauini, Cabagan, San Pablo, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, Delfin Albano, Quirino, Gamu, Roxas, Mallig, Quezon),
• Apayao,
• Kalinga,
• Mountain Province,
• Abra,
• Ilocos Norte,
• Ilocos Sur

Meanwhile, those under TCWS No. 1, which could experience "strong winds within 36 hours," are:

• The rest of Isabela,
• Nueva Vizcaya,
• Quirino,
• Ifugao,
• Benguet,
• La Union,
• Pangasinan,
• Aurora,
• Nueva Ecija,
• Tarlac,
• Zambales,
• Pampanga,
• Bulacan,
• the northern portion of Bataan (Samal, Morong, Dinalupihan, Abucay, Orani, Hermosa),
• the northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta) including Polillo Islands,
• Calaguas Islands

PAGASA said as of 10 a.m., Maring's center was estimated based on all available data at 240 km east of Aparri, Cagayan, or 265 km east southeast of Calayan, Cagayan (18.7°N, 123.9°E).

Maring was moving westward at 15 km/h packing maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 115 km/h, and central pressure of 980 hPa.

"Considering these developments, the public and disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned are advised to take all necessary measures to protect life and property," PAGASA said.

It added that Maring will be moving westward over the Luzon Strait between Monday afternoon and early Tuesday morning,  and pass very close or over the Babuyan on Monday night.

"The possibility of landfall over mainland northern Cagayan or a close approach over Batanes is not yet ruled out," PAGASA said.

Maring is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Tuesday morning.

Effects so far

Meanwhile, amid Maring's threat, 72 families or 224 individuals have been preemptively evacuation in Baggao, Cagayan, according to the Office of Civil Defense in Region II.

In Sta Ana, Cagayan, all barangays have reported power service interruption since 12 a.m. Monday. 

Classes from pre-school to secondary were also suspended both in private and public schools in the entire Cagayan province.   —KBK, GMA News