MANILA, Philippines - Typhoon "Pedring," packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour with gusts of up to 170 kph, made landfall over the boundary of Aurora and Isabela provinces this morning.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that as of 4 a.m., the storm's eye was estimated at 40 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora.
It was moving west northwest at 19 kilometers per hour.
The storm was expected to cross provinces in the northern areas of Luzon and hit Baguio City by the afternoon.
Eighteen areas in Luzon were placed under public storm warning signal No. 3.
These areas were:
- Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- Abra
- Apayao
- Kalinga
- Mt. Province
- Cagayan
- Isabela
- Ifugao
- Benguet
- La Union
- Nueva Viscaya
- Quirino
- Aurora
- Nueva Ecija
- Tarlac
- Pangasinan
- Zambales
Public storm warning signal No. 2 remains hoisted over Metro Manila. The other areas under the same storm warning signal were
- Pampanga
- Bulacan
- Bataan
- Rizal
- Northern Quezon
- Polillo island
- Cavite
- Laguna
- Batangas
- Lubang island
- Babuyan
- Calayan group of islands
Public storm warning signal No. 1 is placed over:
- Batanes
- Oriental Mindoro
- Occidental Mindoro
- Marinduque
- Burias island
- Camarines Norte
- Camarines Sur
- Albay
- Southern Quezon
- Catanduanes
- Calamian group of island
- Romblon group of islands
PAGASA said that the amount rainfall within the 650 kilometer diameter of the typhoon is estimated at 15 to 29 millimeter per hour.
The storm continues to enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing heavy rains over the country.
The weather bureau said landslides and flashfloods may take place in areas under storm alert.
One dead, 4 missing
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported this morning that a one-year-old boy identified as Chawn Andrie Daliora after falling off a creek going to Bato River. His body was recovered around 10 p.m. Monday.
The NDRRMC also reported that three more people are missing in Quezon and one person in Aurora province. It said that the 33 fishermen reported missing in Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte have been rescued.
Early reports recieved by the NDRRMC showed that only a total of 1,355 families have been affected by the typhoon. However, the reports were received before "Pedring" made landfall in Aurora and Isabela provinces.
As of this morning, the agency has reported incidents of landslides in Barangay Laganac, Balatan in Camarines Sur, which occurred yesterday, and along the circumferential road at Summit, Viga, Catanduanes.
A tornado also tore through Barangay Fely in Maconacon, Isabela, damaging six houses.
Power was out in central and northern parts of Aurora province. Power outage was also being experience in Nakar, Infanta and Real town in Quezon and towns in the 4th district of Laguna, including, Pila, Sta. Maria, Sta. Cruz, Pagsanjan, Famy, Pangil, Pakil, Siniloan, Cavinti, Luisiana, Lumban, Kalayaan and Magdalena.
Power was also out in some parts of Metro Manila, including Manila, San Juan and Quezon cities and in Cavite, particularly in the towns of Imus, silang and Tagaytay.
Theresa Adriano of Meralco was attempting to restore power in the affected areas.
Class, government work suspensions
The government had announced that areas under public storm warning signal No. 3 should suspend classes in all levels.
However, in Metro Manila, several universities and colleges postponed classes for today. The announcements were made as early as last night.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte announced the suspension in government offices around 7 a.m. today.
However, she said that government agencies involved in the rescue operations and emergency situations have not been suspended.
Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) has suspended classes in pre-school, elementary and high school in Metro Manila, Isabela, Cagayan, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya,Antipolo City, Jala Jala, Rodriguez, and San Mateo in Rizal; in Rosario, Gen. Trias, Tanza, and Bacoor in Cavite; in Sta. Rosa, Laguna; and in the entire Quezon province.
The DepEd said automatic suspension of classes based on storm signals raised or declarations made by local government units, local DepEd officials or school heads will be applied in other areas. -- with Dennis Carcamo