'Vinta' moving away from Phl; 4 areas under storm signal

MANILA, Philippines - Typhoon "Vinta" continues to move away from the Philippines after hitting northern Luzon, the state weather bureau said before noon Friday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 11 a.m. update that Vinta was last observed at 190 kilometers west northwest of Laoag City.

The typhoon is packed with maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 160 kilometers per hour.

Areas  that are still under public storm warning signal no. 1 are Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Abra and Ilocos Sur.

PAGASA said moderate to heavy rainfall is expected within the 500-kilometer diameter of the typhoon.

The weather bureau warned that sea travel remains risky over the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon and over the western seaboard of Central Luzon.

Moving west northwest at 22 kilometers per hour, Vinta is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday afternoon.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Vinta affected nearly 400 people in the Cagayan Valley region.

Due to the effects of the typhoon that made landfall on Thursday afternoon, power outages were reported in some parts of northern Cagayan, Apayao, and Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.