Manila: Two people died and one was missing as Typhoon Goni, also called Ineng, neared the northeast periphery of northern Luzon, officials said. They added that Goni and its twin, Typhoon Atsani, superstorms originating from the Pacific Ocean, would not make a landfall in the Philippines, but precipitate heavy intermittent southwest rains nationwide over the weekend.
Meanwhile, A motorist died by a fallen tree on Pinili-Nueva Era, another victim died in Bavaro town, and a resident remained missing in Solsona town, all in Ilocos Norte province.
Typhoon Goni was seen 130 kilometres east of Calayan, Cagayan province, packing 170km/h maximum winds and gusts of up to 205km/h on Friday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.
The majority of Ilocos Norte suffered power outages, the NDRRMC said, adding that local government officials prevented fishermen in Ilocos Norte’s coastal areas from sailing due to big waves.
Authorities were prepared with rescue teams in nearby Ilocos Sur provinces. In Vigan, a tourist area with preserved old houses, tourists were advised not to go sightseeing in nearby provinces, said the NDRRMC.
Goni is expected to leave the Philippines and move to the South China Sea via the north eastern seaboard of the country on Monday, the weather station said, adding it would continue charting the movement of Typhoon Atsani, which has been creating a high pressure area north of Typhoon Goni.
More than 20 typhoons hit the Philippine every year, starting June.
