MANILA, Philippines - A tropical depression over the Marianas Islands might enter the Philippines this weekend and threaten Northern and Central Luzon, the weather bureau said yesterday.
However, Deputy Administrator Nathaniel Cruz of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the weather disturbance was still too far away to directly affect the country.
As of 11 a.m. yesterday, the tropical depression was spotted some 1, 870 kilometers east of the Visayas with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center.
It was forecast to move west northwest at 35 kph in the general direction of the Central and Northern Luzon-Taiwan area, Cruz said.
Once it enters the country the depression will be codenamed “Ramil.” – Helen Flores