‘Igme’ intensies as it moves toward Batanes-Taiwan area
Filed under weather by Pangasinan Today on 27-07-2008
Typhoon Igme (international codename Fung-Wong) has intensified further as it continues to move closer to the Batanes-Taiwan area, weather bureau PAGASA said Sunday.
Public storm warning signal No. 3 has been hoisted over the Batanes Group of Islands and Babuyan Group of Islands.
Signal No. 2 is in effect in Cagayan, Apayao and Ilocos Norte while Signal No. 1 was raised over Kalinga, Abra, Mt. Province, Ilocos Sur, Ifugao, Benguet, La Union and Pangasinan, Zambales and Bataan.
As of 10 a.m, Igme was located 28 kilometers east northeast of Basco, Batanes. It has maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph. The typhoon was moving west at 15 kph.
PAGASA said Igme will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rains over Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, particularly over the western sections.
By Monday morning, Igme is expected to be 290 km north of Basco, Batanes. It is forecast to be 580 km north northwest of Basco, Batanes, or at 260 km west northwest of Taipei, Taiwan by Tuesday morning.
The weather bureau alerted residents along the coastal areas under Signal No. 3 and 2 against big waves and storm surges generated by this tropical cyclone.
Residents in low lying areas and near mountain slopes, meanwhile, have been advised to take all the necessary precautions against possible flashfloods and landslides.
