Uwan may re-enter PAR on Wednesday, Signal No. 1 over 7 areas

Severe Tropical Storm Uwan weakens further as it moves closer to southern Taiwan.  Still, seven areas in Luzon are under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1, according to PAGASA.

In its 11 p.m. cyclone bulletin on Tuesday, the weather bureau said Uwan is still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), but may re-enter Wednesday, November 12, afternoon as it makes landfall over the southwestern coast of Taiwan.

"It will then emerge over the waters near Ryukyu Islands on Thursday, where it is expected to eventually weaken into a remnant low on Friday (14 November)," PAGASA said.

The center of Uwan was estimated at 285 kilometers West of Itbayat, Batanes, outside PAR, moving north northeastward at 15 km/h with maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 115 km/h.

Signal No. 1 is hoisted in the following Luzon areas:

• Batanes
• the western portions of Cagayan (Pamplona, Rizal, Claveria, Lasam, Aparri, Ballesteros, Abulug, Allacapan, Sanchez-Mira, Santa Praxedes) including Babuyan Islands
• Apayao
• Abra
• the northwestern portion of Kalinga (Balbalan, Pasil)
• Ilocos Norte
• the northern and central portions of Ilocos Sur (Gregorio del Pilar, Magsingal, San Esteban, Banayoyo, Burgos, City of Candon, Santa Lucia, Santiago, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, Lidlidda, Nagbukel, Sinait, San Ildefonso, Galimuyod, City of Vigan, San Emilio, Cabugao, Caoayan, San Juan, Santa, Bantay, Santo Domingo, Santa Cruz, Santa Maria, Narvacan, Salcedo)

According to PAGASA, outside the areas under wind signals, Uwan will also bring occasionally gusty conditions reaching strong to gale-force strength over the following areas, especially in coastal and upland areas exposed to winds:

November 12: Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Bicol Region, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Quezon, and Aurora

November 13: Batanes and Babuyan Islands

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported on Tuesday that the death toll from Uwan, which reached super typhoon category over the weekend, has risen to 25.

Uwan, which has since been downgraded as a severe tropical storm, also displaced 1,188,764 people as it reached super typhoon strength, the OCD said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said damage and losses from Uwan have so far reached P142.29 million.—LDF, GMA Integrated News