'Ineng' to make landfall in Batanes by Friday

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED 12:05 p.m.) - Typhoon "Ineng" (international name "Goni") is expected to make landfall in Batanes by Friday or Saturday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) said on Thursday.

The typhoon maintained its strength but slowed down due to the presence of a high pressure area as moves towards extreme Northern Luzon.

At 10 a.m., it was located 375 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan with maximum sustained winds of 180 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 215 kph. It continues to move westward at 13 kph.

Public storm warning signals are up in the following areas:

Signal no. 1

• Abra
• Northern Aurora
• Ifugao
• Ilocos Sur
• Isabela
• Kalinga
• Mt. Province
• Quirino

Signal no. 2

• Apayao
• Rest of Cagayan
• Ilocos Norte

Signal no. 3

• Babuyan
• Batanes
• Calayan
• Northern Cagayan

Ineng will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon or "habagat" which will bring occasional rains over western Luzon and Metro Manila on Thursday until early next week, according to the weather bureau.

The typhoon is forecasted to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Sunday and will then track toward Japan.

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