Manila: Typhoon Yinxing (local code: Marce) has intensified, with peak intensity of up to 150 km/h on Wednesday threatening northern mainland Luzon and the Babuyan Islands, weathermen warned.
Yinxing is the third typhoon to hit the country in about 14 days.
It comes on the heels of two storms – Kristine (“Trami”) made landfall October 24, while supertyphoon Leon (“Kong-rey”, a Category 4-equivalent super typhoon) brushed northern Luzon – which caused 154 deaths, 134 injuries and 21 still missing, according to emergency workers.
In its 11:00 am bulletin on Wednesday (November 6), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported that Yinxing was last tracked around 305 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, with maximum sustained winds now reaching 150 km/h near the centre.
It has gained power from 140 km/h earlier, and gusts of up to 185 kph, an increase from 170 km/h.
The typhoon is moving westward at 10 km/h.
Signal No. 3
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 is in effect over the northeastern part of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana), where winds stronger than 85 kph and up to 117 kph are expected within the next 18 hours.
Signal No. 2
The following areas are currently under TCWS No. 2:
- Batanes
- Babuyan Islands
- Northern portions of mainland Cagayan (Gonzaga, Lal-Lo, Santa Teresita, Buguey, Gattaran, Baggao, Lasam, Abulug, Camalaniugan, Pamplona, Claveria, Aparri, Ballesteros, Allacapan, Sanchez-Mira, Santa Praxedes, Rizal, Santo Niño, Alcala, Amulung)
- Northern part of Apayao (Calanasan, Luna, Pudtol, Santa Marcela, Flora, Kabugao)
These areas may experience winds between 62 and 88 km/h.
Signal No. 1
The following areas are under TCWS No. 1:
- Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- Abra
- The rest of Apayao
- Kalinga
- Mountain Province
- Ifugao
- Northern portion of Benguet (Mankayan, Buguias, Kabayan, Bakun, Kibungan, Bokod, Atok)
- The rest of mainland Cagayan
- Isabela
- Quirino
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Northern part of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler)
Winds ranging from 39 to 61 km/h are anticipated in these areas within 36 hours.
Pagasa noted that Yinxing may weaken slightly due to interaction with the terrain of mainland Luzon – but it is expected to remain a typhoon as it moves through the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).
It will likely continue to weaken over the weekend due to the surge of the northeasterly wind flow or weak southern monsoon, and it is forecasted to exit the PAR on Friday evening.
Lives disrupted by Kristine and Leon
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that recent storms Kristine and Leon have impacted over 8.8 million people or 2.2 million families, with more than 711,000 displaced.
Among these, 193,000 are in evacuation centers, while 517,000 sought shelter elsewhere.
The NDRRMC reported floods in 839 areas across multiple regions, including Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen, Caraga, the Bangsamoro region, and the National Capital Region.
