Signal No. 1 over most of Luzon as Ramil continues to move west

Signal No,. 1  

Signal No. 1 has been hoisted over most of Luzon as Tropical Storm Ramil continues to move west-northwest away from the Philippine landmass, PAGASA said Sunday evening.

In its 11 p.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, the state weather bureau said that as 10 p.m., Ramil (international name: Fengshen) was estimated to be 155 km west-northwest of Iba, Zambales or 175 km west of Dagupan City, Pangasinan.

It is moving west-northwest at 10 km/h with maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 80 km/h, central pressure of 998 hPa, and strong to gale-force winds extending outwards up to 450 km from the center.

It is forecast to continue moving west-northwest over the West Philippine Sea and could exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday morning.

"Ramil may re-intensify while over the West Philippine Sea and is forecast to reach severe tropical storm category once outside the PAR Region," PAGASA added.

Tropical wind cyclone signal (TCWS) 1 is raised over 29 areas, indicating winds of 39 to 61 kilometers per hour and intermittent rains expected in at least 36 hours:

• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, 
• Isabela, 
• Quirino, 
• Nueva Vizcaya, 
• Apayao, 
• Abra, 
• Ifugao, 
• Mountain Province, 
• Kalinga, 
• Benguet, 
• Ilocos Norte, 
• Ilocos Sur, 
• La Union, 
• Pangasinan, 
• Zambales, 
• Bataan, 
• Tarlac, 
• Pampanga, 
• Bulacan, 
• Nueva Ecija, 
• Aurora, 
• Metro Manila, 
• Cavite, 
• Batangas, 
• Rizal, 
• Laguna, 
• the northern and western portions of Quezon (Lucena City, Pagbilao, Infanta, Tiaong, Unisan, Plaridel, San Antonio, Alabat, Candelaria, Lucban, Sampaloc, Padre Burgos, Sariaya, City of Tayabas, Mauban, Dolores, General Nakar, Perez, Agdangan, Atimonan, Real) including Polillo Islands, 
• the northern and central portions of Occidental Mindoro (Abra de Ilog, Sablayan, Mamburao, Santa Cruz, Paluan) including Lubang Islands, and
•  the northern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Socorro, Naujan, Puerto Galera, Victoria, San Teodoro, Baco, City of Calapan, Pola)  

Some of these areas were under Signal No. 2 earlier.

Several areas have already suspended Monday classes due to Ramil's impact, while Roxas City, Capiz has declared a state of calamity due to flooding.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) also reported that two people have died and two more are missing due to the storm. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA Integrated News