MANILA – Typhoon Marce (international name Yinxing) continues to threaten northern mainland Cagayan and the Babuyan Islands, and strong winds and heavy rains continue to prevail across Northern Luzon, the weather bureau said Thursday.
In its 5 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Marce packs maximum sustained winds of 155 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 190 kph.
The typhoon was located at 200 km. east of Aparri, Cagayan as of 4 a.m.
Typhoon-force winds will prevail in areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4: the northern portion of mainland Cagayan (Gonzaga, Santa Ana, Santa Teresita, Lal-Lo, Buguey, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Gattaran, Ballesteros, Allacapan, Abulug, Pamplona, and Sanchez-Mira), including the Babuyan Islands and the northeastern portion of Apayao.
TCWS No. 3 is hoisted over the southern portion of Batanes (Mahatao, Uyugan, Basco, Ivana, and Sabtang), the rest of Cagayan, the rest of Apayao, Ilocos Norte, and the northern portion of Abra (Tineg). These areas will experience storm-force winds, according to PAGASA.
Gale-force winds will prevail in areas under TCWS No. 2: Batanes, the northern and central portions of Isabela (San Pablo, Santa Maria, Divilacan, Tumauini, Maconacon, Cabagan, Santo Tomas, Quezon, Palanan, Ilagan City, Mallig, Delfin Albano, Quirino, San Mariano, Gamu, Roxas, Naguilian, Burgos, Reina Mercedes, Benito Soliven, Luna, Aurora, San Manuel, San Mateo, Alicia, Angadanan, City of Cauayan, and Cabatuan), the rest of Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, the northern portion of Ifugao (Alfonso Lista, Aguinaldo, Mayoyao, Banaue, and Hungduan), the northern portion of Benguet (Bakun and Mankayan), Ilocos Sur, and the northern portion of La Union (Sudipen, Bangar, Balaoan, Luna, and Santol).
Strong winds will prevail in areas under TCWS No. 1: the rest of La Union, Pangasinan, the rest of Ifugao, the rest of Benguet, the rest of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, and Baler), the northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan), and the northern portion of Zambales (Santa Cruz and Candelaria).
The northeasterly wind flow and the periphery of the typhoon will bring strong to gale-force gusts across Zambales, Bataan, and Polillo Islands.
Meanwhile, intense to torrential rains will be experienced in Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte, while heavy to intense rains are forecast in Batanes, Ilocos Sur, and Abra.
Moderate to heavy rains will prevail across Kalinga, La Union, Isabela, and Mountain Province.
Flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas highly susceptible to these hazards.
PAGASA said there is a high risk of life-threatening storm surge, with peak surge heights exceeding 3 meters above normal tide levels in the next 48 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Batanes, Cagayan including the Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and La Union.
Gale warning is hoisted over the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon. Sea travel is risky for all types or tonnage of vessels.
PAGASA forecast the typhoon to make landfall and traverse the Babuyan Islands and/or the northern portions of mainland Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, and Apayao, or pass very close to these areas from Thursday afternoon to Friday. (PNA)