'Typhoon likely to hit Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan'

MANILA - The Philippine weather bureau on Friday said typhoon Santi (international codename Mirinae) is likely to hit Metro Manila after making landfall in Quezon province early Saturday.

Based  on the 11 a.m. weather bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Santi was spotted 350 kilometers east northeast of Infanta, Quezon.

“Kung hindi magbabago ang kanyang direksiyon, dito siya tatama sa may Quezon province area, napakataas ng posibilidad na tatawid ito dito sa Metro Manila at dadaan ng mga probinsiya ng Bulacan, Rizal kasama na ang NCR papunta ng Bataan palabas ng South China Sea," said PAGASA operations chief Nathaniel Cruz.

It is moving west at 22 kilometer per hour (kph), packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph.

“Kaya po ang kritical na mga oras ay simula mamayang gabi Biyernes hanggang bukas po ng Sabado, at inaasahan na sa Linggo ito ay may kalayuan na dito sa Metro Manila at ibang bahagi ng Luzon," Cruz added.

PAGASA expects Santi to be 70 kms west northwest of Metro Manila or in the vicinity of Zambales on Saturday morning and 600 kms west of Metro Manila or over the South China Sea on Sunday morning.

Signal No. 3 has been hoisted in Northern Quezon and Polillo Islands, while storm signal No. 2 is up in the provinces of Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Tarlac, Zambales, Pampanga, Bataan, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Lubang Island, the rest of Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes and Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 has been raised in Isabela, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Albay, Burias Island, Sorsogon, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, and Calamian Group.

The weather bureau said residents living in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes under signals number 3, 2 and 1 are advised to take all the necessary precautionary measures against flashfloods and landslides.

Likewise, residents living along the coasts in areas under the said storm signals are advised to be on alert against storm surges and big waves generated by the typhoon.

Cruz added that Ambuklao and Pantabangan dams continue to release water as of Friday morning.

“Sa Ambuklao, apat na gates, 22 cubic meters per second, samantalang sa Pantabangan naman, isang gate ang nakabukas 60 cubic meters per second ang pinapakawalang tubig,” he said.