Signal No. 1 declared in seven areas as Egay intensifies

Severe Tropical Storm Egay (international name: Doksuri) has further intensified and is projected to reach typhoon category in the next 24 hours, leaving seven areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) 1 before possibly reaching super typhoon category by Tuesday.

Based on the 5 p.m. weather bulletin released by PAGASA, Egay’s center was estimated 560 kilometers east of Daet, Camarines Sur, moving west-northwestward at 10 kilometers per hour (km/h), with maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 135 km/h.

Below is a list of areas under TCWS 1, indicating that winds of 39 to 61 km/h or intermittent rains may be expected within 36 hours:

• Catanduanes,
• eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Garchitorena, Caramoan, Presentacion),
• northern portion of Aurora (Casiguran, Dilasag),
• eastern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue, Divilacan, Maconacon, Palanan, Ilagan City, San Mariano, Tumauini, San Pablo, Cabagan),
• eastern portion of Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Lal-Lo, Gattaran, Baggao, Peñablanca),
• northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Oras, Arteche, Jipapad), and
• eastern portion of Northern Samar (Lapinig, Gamay, Mapanas, Palapag, Laoang, Catubig, Pambujan)

PAGASA said Egay is expected to reach typhoon category within 24 hours, with “rapid intensification” likely within the next 72 hours. It may become a super typhoon on Tuesday.

Egay is projected to be closest to extreme Northern Luzon on Wednesday and make landfall over the east coast of Taiwan on Thursday morning.

“A slight weakening trend may begin on Wednesday and will continue until Egay makes landfall over Taiwan. Interaction with the mountainous terrain of Taiwan will result in further weakening—a trend which will continue until the tropical cyclone makes another landfall on mainland China,” the bulletin read.

Public school classes and work in government offices in Metro Manila on Monday have been suspended due to the expected effects of Egay and a scheduled transport strike. President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos will also deliver his second State of the Nation Address on that day.

The municipality of Taytay, Rizal has also suspended public school classes and work in government offices due to Egay and the transport strike.

The province of Bulacan has also suspended work in private and public offices, except in agencies and offices that provide basic and health services and disaster relief, due to the effects of Egay and the transport strike. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA Integrated News