2 provinces now under Signal 4; Typhoon Nina’s threat deepens

Two provinces in the Bicol region are now under Cyclone Warning Signal 4 as the threat of Typhoon Nina's onslaught intensifies by the passing of the hours on Sunday afternoon.

In its 1 p.m. typhoon advisory, state-run weather agency PAGASA said Nina continued to threaten the Bicol Region, making Camarines Sur the second province to be placed under Storm Signal No. 4, following Catanduanes.

Nina was located 110 km east of Virac, Catanduanes and has maintained its maximum sustained winds of 185 kph and gustiness of 255 kph. It is moving west at 15 kph.

Residents in areas under Signal No. 4  can expect strong winds from 171-220 kph in the next 12 hours.

Moderate to very heavy damage to structures and severe losses to crops is expected in areas under Signal No. 4.

Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected within Nina's 500 km diameter, even as sea travel remains risky over the seabords of Luzon.

PAGASA said storm surges as high as two to three meters is also possible over the coastal areas of Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Catanduanes.

Six areas are under Signal No. 3 as of 5 p.m., including:

• Burias Island
• Albay
• Camarines Norte
• Southern Quezon
• Sorsogon
• Marinduque

Light to heavy damage on structures and losses in crops are expected within 18 hours.

Meanwhile, Signal No. 2 is hoisted over following areas as of 5 p.m. Sunday:

• Metro Manila
• Masbate including Ticao Island
• Oriental Mindoro
• Batangas
• Laguna
• Rest of Quezon including Polillo
• Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island
• Romblon
• Cavite
• Rizal
• Bulacan
• Northern Samar
• Bataan

Under these weather conditions, minor to moderate  damage to structures and crops can be expected.

Areas under Signal No. 1 are:

• Pangasinan
• Nueva Ecija
• Aurora
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Zambales
• Pampanga
• Tarlac
• Calamian Group of Islands
• Aklan
• Capiz
• Samar
• Eastern Samar
• Biliran
• Leyte
• Bantayan Island

Minimal damage to structures is expected under Signal No. 1. But crops may suffer significant damage during the flowering stage.

PAGASA forecasts Nina to be in the vicinity of Gumaca, Quezon on Monday morning, 235 km west southwest of Iba, Zambales on Tuesday morning, and outside of the Philippine area of responsibility by Wednesday morning. —LBG/BM, GMA News