Thousands flee as Leon threatens Luzon

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 on Wednesday.

In Tuguegarao City in Cagayan, some residents who were about to return to their homes after Severe Tropical Storm Kristine left the country decided to stay in evacuation centers due to Leon’s threat, Jonathan Andal reported.

Meanwhile, those who already went back to their homes were advised to evacuate again by the city government.

From 70 families, only nine families were still staying in an evacuation center in Barangay Balzain East. In Sta. Ana town, 25 more families also evacuated.

Around 4,000 residents already left their homes in the province and most of them were from Baggao with 2,000 evacuees.

It was also in Baggao where the body of an elderly man who was missing for three days amid the onslaught of Kristine was retrieved from the Pared River.

In Occidental Mindoro, travelers are already rushing to seaports as trips amid the possible threat from Leon in the coming days,  according to a report of Mav Gonzales.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office is monitoring the situation and tents are already set up for possible evacuees.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, state weather bureau PAGASA said Leon was located 395 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan with a maximum sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 205 kph.

Signal No. 3 has been hoisted over Batanes and the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands as Typhoon Leon.

Leon is seen to rapidly intensify over the Philippine Sea until prior to landfall over Taiwan. It will "likely be at or near super typhoon intensity during its closest point of approach to Batanes," PAGASA added.

--Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News