Leon now a 'super typhoon'

Tropical Cyclone Leon intensified into a super typhoon on Wednesday morning, according to state weather bureau PAGASA. 

“Tropical Cyclone Update for Super Typhoon #LeonPH as of 10:00 AM today. All are advised to monitor updates from DOST-PAGASA,” the agency said on Facebook. 

As of 10 a.m., Leon was located 360 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan with maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph. 

The super typhoon was moving west-northwestward at 10 kph. 

Typhoon Leon brought rains and strong winds in some areas in Luzon forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes, according to reports on GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita early Wednesday.

Signal No. 3 has been hoisted over Batanes and the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands as of 5 a.m.

Signal No. 2 has been raised over the following areas. They will experience  winds of 62 km/h to 88 km/h over the next 24 hours:

• Cagayan
• The rest of Babuyan Islands
• The northern and eastern portions of Isabela (Santo Tomas, Santa Maria, Quezon, San Mariano, Naguilian, Dinapigue, Delfin Albano, San Pablo, Ilagan City, Benito Soliven, Tumauini, Cabagan, Palanan, Quirino, Divilacan, Gamu, Mallig, Maconacon, Burgos, City of Cauayan, San Guillermo, Angadanan, Cabatuan, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Roxas, Aurora, San Manuel)
• Apayao
• Kalinga
• The northern and eastern portions of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Malibcong, Lagayan, San Juan, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay, Daguioman)
• The eastern portion of Mountain Province (Paracelis)
• Ilocos Norte

The following areas under Signal No. 1 may expect winds of 39 km/h to 61 km/h or intermittent rains over the next 36 hours:

• The rest of Isabela
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• The rest of Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• The rest of Abra
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• Nueva Ecija
• Aurorat
• The northeastern portion of Tarlac (Camiling, San Clemente, Paniqui, Moncada, Anao, San Manuel, Pura, Ramos, Victoria, Gerona, Santa Ignacia, City of Tarlac, La Paz)
• The northern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Miguel)
• The northern portion of Quezon (Infanta, General Nakar) including Polillo Islands,
• Camarines Norte
• The northern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan)
• The northern and eastern portions of Catanduanes (Pandan, Gigmoto, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Baras, Caramoran)

Impact

On Wednesday, the reported death toll due to the effects of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine and Typhoon Leon increased to 145.

Kristine and Leon have affected a total of 7,033,922 people (1,788,630 families) in 17 regions, most of them in Bicol with 2,343,175, followed by Central Luzon with 1,061,766 and Calabarzon with 752,793.

Of the affected population, the NDRRMC said 333,951 people (86,565 families) were staying in evacuation centers while 427,059 persons (91,307 families) were taking shelter in other places.

Landslides and floods were monitored in some affected areas. A total of 111,177 houses were damaged — 104,740 partially and 6,437 totally.

The cost of damage to agriculture was estimated at P2,838,568,103 and to infrastructure at P3,617,943,026. For irrigation facilities, P32,620,000 worth of damage was also reported.

--VAL, GMA Integrated News