Ramon intensifies into severe storm; signals up in Luzon

MANILA, Philippines — Ramon intensified into a severe tropical storm as it moved closer to northern Cagayan yesterday, bringing heavy rains and strong winds.

As of 5 p.m., tropical cyclone wind signal No. 2 was hoisted over Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands; the northern portion of Isabela including Sta. Maria, San Pablo, Maconacon, Cabagan, Sto. Tomas, Quezon, Delfin Albano, Tumauini and Divilacan; Apayao; Kalinga and Ilocos Norte.

Signal No. 1, meanwhile, was raised over Abra, Batanes, Benguet, Ifugao, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Mountain Province and the rest of Isabela as well as northern Aurora, including the towns of Dilasag, Casiguran and Dinalungan.

Ramon, which continued to move slowly, started to pound with strong winds and heavy rains areas of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Apayao, Batanes, Ilocos Norte and the northern portion of Isabela.

It also started to bring intermittent heavy rains over Abra, the rest of Ilocos Norte and Isabela, and Kalinga.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecast Ramon to make landfall over northern Cagayan between last night and early today.

As of 4 p.m., the storm’s center was spotted at 125 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan with maximum sustained winds of 100 kph and gustiness of up to 125 kph.

It was moving north northwest at 10 kph.

Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands, Batanes, the northern portion of Ilocos Norte will still experience light to moderate with occasional heavy rains today.

Light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains will persist over Abra, the rest of Cagayan and Ilocos Norte as well as Isabela.

This afternoon, Ramon is projected to be in the vicinity of Barangay Doña Loreta in Pudtol, Apayao.

Ramon can weaken into a tropical depression as it moves toward the West Philippine Sea tomorrow.

It is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday.

New LPA

Meanwhile, the low-pressure area east of the country was expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility within the next 24 hours.

As of 2 p.m., it was estimated at 1,320 km east of Eastern Visayas.

PAGASA said the weather system could develop into a tropical cyclone.

Displaced

At least 49 families were displaced due to rains spawned by Typhoon Ramon in the towns of Sta. Praxedes and Gattaran in Cagayan yesterday.

The disaster risk reduction and management office of Sta. Praxedes said 41 families composed of 133 persons from three villages are sheltered in barangay halls.

Eight familes or 23 individuals were in the barangay hall of Sta. Ana in Gattaran, according to local disaster officials.

Ready for Ramon

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is ready for Ramon as it deployed ambulances and welfare desks in northern Luzon.

Sen. Richard Gordon, PRC chairman, said their stockpile of relief necessities such as food items, hygiene kits, kitchen sets, sleeping kits, tarpaulins and jerry cans would be transported to affected families.

“PRC staff and volunteers are on standby and ready to provide assistance to our fellowmen who will be hit by Tropical Storm Ramon,” Gordon said. - With Raymund Catindig, Rainier Allan Ronda