'Marce' intensifies, floods Metro

MANILA, Philippines – Classes in several parts of Metro Manila were suspended yesterday due to flashfloods caused by heavy rains as tropical storm “Marce” intensified into a typhoon.

Marce will continue to bring moderate to heavy rains over the western section of Luzon, including Metro Manila, until tomorrow, the weather bureau said yesterday.

Nathaniel Cruz, weather branch chief of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), said Marce is expected to further gain strength as it slowly moves north-northwest at seven kilometers per hour.

Cruz said the western section of Luzon, which includes Ilocos, Central Luzon, and Southern Tagalog, and Western Visayas would continue to experience monsoon rains until Friday.

Cruz said extreme Northern Luzon would continue to experience stormy weather until today.

Typhoon warning signal no. 2 remained hoisted over Babuyan and Batanes group of islands as of 5 p.m. yesterday.

The provinces of Cagayan and Apayao are still under signal no. 1.

Marce was spotted at 220 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes at 4 p.m. yesterday, packing winds of 150 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of 185 kph.

It is expected to be at 220 kms northeast of Basco, Batanes this afternoon and at 460 kms north-northeast of Basco or 290 kms east of northern Taiwan tomorrow afternoon.

By Saturday afternoon, Marce would be at 700 kms northeast of Basco or 100 kms southwest of Okinawa, Southern Japan.

Cruz said Marce would continue to enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rains over Luzon and Visayas, particularly the western sections which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.

He said Marce is forecast to leave the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday, adding improving weather is likely during the weekend.

Meanwhile, Cruz said the surge of the southwest monsoon is expected to affect the coastal areas of Central and Southern Luzon.

He said the shorelines of Central and Southern Luzon would experience cloudy skies with scattered to widespread rain showers and thunderstorms. The sea conditions would be rough to very rough with wave heights expected at 3.7 to five meters.

Cruz warned fishermen not to venture out into the sea while bigger boats are alerted against moderate to high waves.

Marce was the 13th tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the first this month.

The Department of Education-National Capital Region (DepEd-NCR) reported that their division offices had suspended classes in Las Piñas and Taguig-Pateros.

Some schools in Quezon City, Manila and Malabon were also suspended due to heavy floods in their respective vicinities.

Classes in the elementary and high school levels in Las Piñas, Taguig, and Pateros were also suspended at 1:30 p.m.

 In Manila, classes were suspended at the Manila Science High School, Araullo High School, Roxas High School, and Villamor High School.

In Quezon City, classes were suspended at the Mines Elementary School.

In Malabon, classes were suspended in the Tanyong, Longos and Tonsuya elementary schools.

Strong winds destroyed some 23 shanties at the Baseco compound in Tondo, Manila.

Representatives of the Philippine National Red Cross and the Manila City Hall were sent to Baseco to assist the affected residents. With Rainier Allan Ronda, Sandy Araneta