Typhoon Pablo heads for the Visayas, 12 areas under Signal 3

After plowing through Mindanao earlier in the day, Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) has started heading for Siquijor and Negros Oriental in the Visayas, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Tuesday afternoon. PAGASA said the typhoon, which had made landfall over Davao Oriental before dawn Tuesday and crossed parts of Mindanao, accelerated slightly toward the Visayas area. In its 5 p.m. advisory, PAGASA said Typhoon Pablo was estimated to be 60 kilometers southeast of Dumaguete City as of 4 p.m., with maximum sustained winds of 160 kilometers per hour near the center,and gustiness of up to 195 kph. Typhoon Pablo was moving west-northwest at 24 kph and is expected to be 140 km southwest of Coron, Palawan by Wednesday afternoon.

By Thursday afternoon, it is expected to be 450 km west of Subic, Zambales. By Friday afternoon it is expected to be 660 km northwest of Iba, Zambales. Storm Signals Areas under Storm Signal No. 3 are: Northern Palawan, including Calamian Group Of Islands Bohol Siquijor Southern Cebu Negros Oriental Southern Negros Occidental Iloilo Guimaras Antique Lanao del Norte Misamis Occidental Zamboanga del Norte, Under Signal No. 2 are: Rest of Palawan Aklan Capiz Rest of Cebu including Camotes Island Rest of Negros Occidental Misamis Oriental Agusan del Norte Bukidnon Lanao del Sur Zamboanga del Sur including Sibugay Under Signal No. 1 are: Occidental Mindoro Oriental Mindoro Romblon Leyte including Biliran Southern Leyte Surigao del Norte including Siargao Surigao del Sur Dinagat Agusan del Sur Davao del Norte Compostela Valley North Cotabato Maguindanao PAGASA said Typhoon Pablo may bring rainfall of 10 to 18 millimeters per hour (heavy to intense) within its 500-km diameter. It advised residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signals to be alert against possible flash floods and landslides. Also, those living in coastal areas under public storm warning signals 2 and 3 were alerted against big waves or storm surges. Fishing boats and other sea vessels are advised not to venture out into the seaboards of the Visayas and Mindanao. — DVM, GMA News