Typhoon Ramil to graze Phl

MANILA, Philippines - Typhoon Ramil (international code name Danas) yesterday entered the Philippine area of responsibility but was not expected to hit land, the state weather bureau said.

Ramil is the 18th tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the first weather disturbance this month, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

 In its 4 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the eye of the typhoon was spotted at 1,170 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph.

 It was forecast to move northwest at 26 kph.

 The weather bureau said Ramil may stay in the country for only a day.

 It is predicted to be 800 km northeast of Itbayat or outside the country this afternoon.

 PAGASA weather division chief Robert Sawi said Ramil has a slim chance of making landfall and its track would depend on the movement of Typhoon Quedan, which exited the Philippines last Saturday.

But the intertropical convergence zone will bring rains over Palawan, Visayas and Mindanao in the next few days.