16th Phl storm develops near flood-ravaged Zambales

MANILA, Philippines - The low pressure area (LPA) spotted off Zambales has intensified into Tropical Depression "Paolo" which is expected to stay in the country over the weekend.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said at 4 a.m. today, Paolo was located at 240 kilometers wet of Subic, Zambales.

It is packed with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour and is forecast to move west slowly.

According the the weather bureau, Paolo is expected to be 440 kilometers west of Iba, Zambales by Saturday evening and out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Sunday night.

PAGASA said the tropical depression will enhance the southwest monsoon, which will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms over Zambales, Bataan, Mindoro, and Northern Palawan.

Zambales has been ravaged by floods and landslides due to the heavy rains spawned by the southwest monsoon.

Landslides hit the towns of San Marcelino, Castillejos and Subic, where most of the casualties were buried alive.

Read: Zambales death toll reaches 31

The cost of damages to infrastructure incurred from the landslides and floods in Zambales is now pegged at P23.9 million, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Meanwhile, PAGASA has spotted another LPA 980 kilometers east of Northern Mindanao.

A satellite image from the agency shows that the potential cyclone is much larger than Paolo.

In its 24-hour weather forecast, PAGASA said the provinces of Mindoro and Northern Palawan will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rainshowers and thunderstorms which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.

Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Bicol Region, Calabarzon, rest of Mimaropa, Eastern Visayas and Eastern Mindanao, will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms.

The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.