Signal No. 2 lifted as Pepito moves westward over West Philippine Sea

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 was lifted in areas affected by Tropical Storm Pepito but the western portion of Pangasinan remained under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 late Wednesday morning, according to PAGASA.

In an 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Pepito slightly intensified while moving westward over the West Philippine Sea.

Under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 were Bolinao, Anda, Bani, Agno, Alaminos City, Mabini, Burgos, Dasol, Sual, Labrador, Infanta — all in Pangasinan.

At 10 a.m., Pepito was located at 210 kilometers west of Dagupan City in Pangasinan with maximum sustained winds of 85 km per hour and gustiness of up to 105 km/h moving westward at 30 km/h.

Pepito is expected to develop into a severe tropical storm over the West Philippine Sea on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning, and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility between Thursday morning and afternoon. 

Rains caused by Pepito, which made landfall in Aurora on Tuesday night, had caused floods, landslides, and power outages in many areas in Luzon.

No casualties have been reported so far.  

According to the Office of Civil Defense, over 4,000 families have been affected by Pepito in CALABARZON, most of them from Quezon province.

OCD deputy administrator for operations Assistant Secretary Casiano Monilla said in Region II or Cagayan Valley, a total of 184 families or 645 individuals were evacuated.

Rainfall forecast

According to PAGASA's forecast, light to moderate with at times heavy rains are expected over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, and Palawan.

The bureau warned of possible flooding including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides during heavy or prolonged rainfall in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards.

Strong- to near gale-force winds can be experienced in areas under Signal No. 1, it warned.

Due to the northeasterly surface wind flow, high to gale-force winds are expected over the rest of northern Luzon, especially in coastal and mountainous areas.  —KBK, GMA News