'Ambo' moves away; 'Butchoy' approaches Phl

MANILA, Philippines - Typhoon “Ambo” maintained strength as it moved further away from the country after leaving at least three persons dead and six others missing, the state weather bureau said.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) administrator Undersecretary Benito Ramos identified the fatalities as Princess Beyonce, 2, and her brother Shawn Mori Abrera, 4, who were swept away by an overflowing river in Barangay Sagrada in Buswanga town of Palawan, and seven-year old Richard Alulan of Sitio Tawi-Tawi in Barangay San Andres in Cainta, Rizal, who drowned at the height of the typhoon. 

A search is still being conducted for the six fishermen on three separate boats who went missing after setting off just before the storm hit.

Thirty-two fishermen, on the other hand, were rescued in the rough waters of Catanduanes on Saturday after their boat ran out of fuel.

Meanwhile, an active low-pressure area moved closer to Philippine territory yesterday and was expected to develop into a tropical cyclone within the next two to three days.

The low-pressure area was spotted at 760 kilometers east of Southern Mindanao at 2 p.m. yesterday.

It will be named “Butchoy” once it develops into a tropical cyclone.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Butchoy may follow the path taken by Ambo, grazing the eastern part of the country but not making landfall.

Meanwhile, as of 2 p.m. yesterday, Ambo was spotted at 490 kilometers east northeast of Basco, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph.

It was forecast to move north northeast at 17 kph.

Ambo is expected to be 700 km east northeast of Basco this morning and 1,040 km northeast of Basco tomorrow morning.

PAGASA said Ambo would still enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains over Southern Luzon and the Visayas, especially over the western section, which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.

The typhoon would continue to bring heavy rainfall (20-30 millimeters per hour) over these areas.

The weather bureau said fishing boats and other small sea craft are advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Luzon and the western seaboard of the Visayas due to the combined effects of Ambo and the southwest monsoon. - Jaime Laude, Celso Amo