'Nando' exits PAR; new LPA seen near Luzon

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical storm "Nando" (international name Kong-rey) is outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the state weather bureau said Thursday morning.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that the storm was already out of the PAR by 10 a.m. or 20 kilometers east of Northern Taiwan.

The exited the PAR packing maximum sustained wind of 105 kilometers per hour with gustiness of up to 135 kph. It was moving north at a speed of 19 kph.

PAGASA said the storm will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon and would continue to bring heavy rains over Calayan, Babuyan and Batanes groups of islands.

Meanwhile, the weather bureau said that it is monitoring a low pressure area estimated at 1,220 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported early today that 59-year-old Fernando Briones is the lone fatality from "Nando" due to drowning in Almagro, Samar.

Another person identified as Weller Golloso, 51, of Barangay Inararan, Bulan in Sorsogon province, was injured after being swept by strong water current while causing a spillway in their area last August 26.

The storm affected a total of 1,537 families or 7,244 persons in Ilocos Norte, Benguet and Samar.