18 areas now under Signal No. 1 due to Nando

Signal No. 1 has been raised over 18 areas in Luzon as Typhoon Nando continues to intensify over the Philippine Sea.

According to PAGASA’s 11 p.m. tropical cyclone bulletin on Saturday, the following areas will experience winds of 39 to 61 km/h within the next 36 hours:

• Batanes
• Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands
• Isabela
• Quirino
• Apayao
• Kalinga
• Abra
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• the eastern portion of Pangasinan (Umingan, San Quintin, San Nicolas, San Manuel, Sison, Pozorrubio, San Fabian, Mangaldan, San Jacinto, Binalonan, Asingan, Tayug, Natividad, Santa Maria, Balungao, Rosales, Manaoag, Laoac, City of Urdaneta, Villasis, Santo Tomas, Mapandan, Santa Barbara)
• the northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Lupao, San Jose City, Pantabangan, Bongabon, Laur, Gabaldon, General Mamerto Natividad, Rizal, Llanera, Talavera, Science City of Muñoz, Santo Domingo, Talugtug, Palayan City)
• the northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler, Maria Aurora, San Luis)
• the northern and central portions of Catanduanes (Pandan, Caramoran, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Gigmoto, San Miguel, Baras)

PAGASA warned about the possibility of hoisting up to Signal No. 5.

At 10 p.m., Nando was located 710 kilometers east of Exhague, Isabela or 695 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

Nando has maximum sustained winds of 155 km/h and gustiness of up to 190 km/h, moving northwestward at 15 km/h.

PAGASA warned that a gale warning has been issued for the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon.

It said there is a high risk of life-threatening storm surge reaching more than 3 meters in height over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Batanes, Cagayan including the Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur within the next 48 hours.

Nando is predicted to intensify into a super typhoon on Sunday as it approaches Extreme Northern Luzon and may either pass close or make landfall over Batanes or the Babuyan Islands on Monday.

Local government units have been asked to implement preemptive or mandatory evacuation of residents in danger zones ahead of Nando's possible landfall in extreme northern Luzon.

In a statement, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) also emphasized the need for a no-sail policy and a liquor ban for public safety.

It also said evacuation centers must be adequately prepared, powered, and stocked.

“The DILG said all concerned officials must take all necessary critical actions without delay to minimize risk and protect lives and livelihoods. The DILG calls on the public to remain alert, cooperate with authorities, and follow official instructions in their respective areas,” the statement read.

The typhoon is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Tuesday morning. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News