Emong weakens into tropical storm, Signal No. 2 up in 5 areas

Emong has weakened into a tropical storm on Friday, according to PAGASA's 2 p.m. advisory.

In its latest bulletin, PAGASA raised the following Tropical Cyclone Wind signals:

Signal No. 2

• The northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Dumalneg, Pagudpud, Adams, Burgos, Bangui)
• The northern portion of Apayao (Calanasan, Luna, Santa Marcela)
• Batanes
• Babuyan Islands
• The northwestern portion of mainland Cagayan (Camalaniugan, Buguey, Aparri, Allacapan, Ballesteros, Abulug, Pamplona, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, Santa Praxedes)

Signal No. 1

• The rest of Ilocos Norte
• The northern portion of Ilocos Sur (Gregorio del Pilar, Magsingal, San Esteban, Banayoyo, Burgos, City of Candon, Santiago, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, Lidlidda, Nagbukel, Sinait, Sigay, San Ildefonso, Galimuyod, Quirino, City of Vigan, San Emilio, Cabugao, Caoayan, San Juan, Santa, Bantay, Santo Domingo, Santa Maria, Narvacan, Salcedo, Cervantes)
• Abra
• The rest of Apayao
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• The rest of mainland Cagayan
• The northern portion of Isabela (Quirino, Mallig, Quezon, Delfin Albano, Tumauini, Maconacon, San Pablo, Santa Maria, Cabagan, Santo Tomas, Roxas, San Manuel)

“EMONG will pass close or over Babuyan Islands and Batanes from this afternoon to early evening while accelerating north northeastward. It is also forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility tomorrow (26 July) morning,” PAGASA said.

The tropical storm was moving north northeastward at 40 kph.

“EMONG will continue to weaken throughout the forecast period due to increasing unfavorable environment. It will likely degenerate into a remnant low tomorrow evening while entering the East China Sea. However, a slightly faster weakening trend is not ruled out,” it added.

Impact

The reported death toll due to Tropical Cyclones Crising, Dante, Emong and the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat has increased to 25 as of Friday morning. 

Meanwhile, a state of calamity was declared in 84 cities and municipalities. A total of 3,849,624 people or 1,065,779 families have been affected by the bad weather in all regions except Eastern Visayas.

The region with the most number of affected individuals was Central Luzon with 2,296,607, followed by Bicol Region with 316,804 and Calabarzon with 205,825.

Of the total affected population, 167,257 people or 47,522 families were staying in evacuation centers, while 111,454 people or 27,685 families were taking shelter in other places.

The extent of damage was reported at P3,987,521,473 for infrastructure, P366,905,285 for agriculture, and P281,660,000 for irrigation systems.

Classes in 1,043 areas and work schedules in 848 areas were suspended due to the threat of the bad weather. —VAL, GMA Integrated News