9th storm enters Philippines; 13 areas under Signal #1

MANILA, Philippines - Thirteen areas in Luzon were placed under public storm warning signal No. 1 as the low pressure area east of Quezon province developed into a tropical depression on Tuesday, the state weather bureau said.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) named the tropical depression "Isang," the ninth cyclone to enter the country this year.

As of 6:00 a.m., the center of the cyclone was estimated at 285 kilometers east of Infanta, Quezon. The cyclone was packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour, moving west northwest at a speed of 19 kilometers per hour.

Public storm warning signal No. 1 was raised over Abra, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Ifugao, Cagayan, Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands, Isabela, Quirino, Aurora, Mt. Province, Kalinga and Apayao.

The weather bureau said the storm will move 20 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City on Wednesday morning and move near Itbayat, Batanes by Thursday.

It warned residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under signal No. 1 against possible flashfloods and landslides.