Kristine nears Isabela, Signal No. 3 over 13 areas

Thirteen areas in Luzon remain under Signal No. 3 as Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) approaches the province of Isabela.

According to PAGASA’s tropical cyclone bulletin at 8 p.m. Wednesday, the following areas will experience winds of 89 km/h up to 117 km/h in the next 18 hours:

• Isabela
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• the central portion of Abra (Malibcong, Licuan-Baay, Sallapadan, Daguioman, Bucloc, Boliney, Tubo, Luba, Manabo, Bucay, Villaviciosa, Pilar, San Isidro, Peñarrubia)
• Benguet
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler)
• the northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Lupao, San Jose City, Pantabangan)
• Pangasinan
• La Union
• the central and southern portions of Ilocos Sur (Cervantes, Quirino, Sigay, Suyo, Alilem, Sugpon, Tagudin, Santa Cruz, Salcedo, Gregorio del Pilar, San Emilio, Lidlidda, Burgos, San Esteban, Santiago, Banayoyo, Galimuyod, City of Candon, Santa Lucia, Nagbukel, Santa Maria, Narvacan)

The following areas under Signal No. 2 will experience winds of 62 km/h up to 88 km/h in the next 24 hours:

• Ilocos Norte
• the rest of Ilocos Sur
• Apayao
• the rest of Abra
• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
• the rest of Aurora
• the rest of Nueva Ecija
• Bulacan
• Tarlac
• Pampanga
• Zambales
• Bataan
• Metro Manila
• Cavite
• Laguna
• Rizal
• Batangas
• Quezon including Polillo Islands
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes

Signal No. 1 was raised over these areas, where winds of 39 km/h to 61 km/h or intermittent rains are expected within the next 36 hours:

• Batanes
• Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands
• Oriental Mindoro
• Marinduque
• Romblon
• the northern portion of mainland Palawan (El Nido, Taytay, Araceli, San Vicente, Dumaran)
• Cuyo Islands
• Calamian Islands
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands
• Aklan
• Capiz
• Antique including Caluya Islands
• Iloilo
• Guimaras
• the northern portion of Negros Occidental (Pontevedra, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Bago City, La Carlota City, Valladolid, Pulupandan, Bacolod City, San Enrique, Murcia, Silay City, City of Talisay, Enrique B. Magalona, Manapla, City of Victorias, Cadiz City, Sagay City, City of Escalante, Toboso, Calatrava, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City)
• the northern portion of Negros Oriental (Vallehermoso, Canlaon City, City of Guihulngan)
• the northern and central portions of Cebu (Alcantara, Argao, Dumanjug, Sibonga, Pinamungahan, Ronda, Liloan, Cebu City, Moalboal, Consolacion, Danao City, Borbon, Carmen, Daanbantayan, Tuburan, City of Bogo, Tabogon, City of Naga, Lapu-Lapu City, City of Carcar, Mandaue City, Catmon, Minglanilla, Toledo City, Cordova, Compostela, San Remigio, Balamban, Aloguinsan, San Fernando, Asturias, Barili, Medellin, Sogod, Tabuelan, City of Talisay) including Bantayan Islands and Camotes Islands
• Bohol
• Eastern Samar
• Northern Samar
• Samar
• Leyte
• Biliran
• Southern Leyte
• Dinagat Islands
• Surigao del Norte including Siargao - Bucas Grande Group

At 7 p.m., Kristine was observed 150 kilometers east of Echague, Isabela with maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h and gustiness of up to 115 km/h.

It was moving northwestward at 15 km/h.

PAGASA reported a moderate to high risk of life-threatening storm surge over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Isabela, Zambales, Aurora within the next 48 hours.

The tropical cyclone will make landfall over the province of Isabela on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning, and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday morning or afternoon.

It is predicted to weaken over Northern Luzon, and re-intensify over the West Philippine Sea.

As of Wednesday, three people have already been reported dead in the Bicol Region, while an 8 a.m. report by the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council stated that one was injured.

A total of 382,302 individuals or 77,910 families have been affected by Kristine in Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula.

Of the affected population, 12,334 people or 3,095 families were staying in evacuation centers while 364 people or 96 families were taking shelter in other places.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has also reported that 30 road sections are impassable.  —Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News