PAGASA: 6 tropical cyclones may enter PAR before end of year

Six more tropical cyclones are expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) before the end of the year, state weather bureau PAGASA said Monday. 

Chris Perez, officer-in-charge of PAGASA Weather Division, said this is based on the outlook during the latest PAGASA Climate Forum where two to eight cyclones were seen to enter and cross PAR during the last quarter of the year.

“Ang huli nating estimate based sa pinaka-last na forum is from two to eight na tropical cyclones. Dahil nakadalawa na tayo ngayong October, likely hanggang anim ang maximum number ng tropical cyclones na inaasahan natin bago magtapos ang taon,” said Perez.

(Based on the recent estimates, around two to eight tropical cyclones are expected to enter PAR. We already had two so it is likely that we may have a maximum of six more cyclones before the end of the year.)

“Asahan natin na [by] last quarter, mas malalakas at may tendency na tumawid ng kalupaan ng ating bansa,” he added. 

(We may expect stronger cyclones during the last quarter of the year.)

At least 12 areas in Luzon are currently under Storm Signal No. 1 as Leon further strengthened into a severe tropical storm.

This developed after Tropical Storm Kristine battered the Philippines last week, causing widespread floods across parts of Luzon including Quezon and the Bicol provinces. 

Data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) showed the number of reported fatalities due to Kristine has reached 116 as of October 28. A total of 10 were already validated and the rest were still subject to validation. 

At least 39 individuals were also reported missing and 109 others were reported injured.

Meanwhile, the NDRRMC said 160 cities and municipalities were placed under a state of calamity due to the onslaught of Kristine. —KBK, GMA Integrated News