SUPER TYPHOON Ragasa, locally named Nando, threatened Northern Luzon with destructive winds and torrential rains on Monday, made worse by the Southwest Monsoon.
The cyclone made landfall over Panuitan Island in Calayan, Cagayan province and was moving away from the Babuyan Islands, the state weather bureau said in a 5 p.m. bulletin.
Malacañang suspended classes and government work in Metro Manila and more than a dozen provinces in Luzon, while some local governments suspended classes at all levels as early as Sunday.
The center of the super typhoon was spotted over the coastal waters of Calayan Island. It was moving westward at 2 kilometers per hour (kph) with maximum sustained winds of 215 kph near the center and gusts of 295 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
The Southwest Monsoon and the trough of Nando would bring strong to gale-force gusts over Metro Manila, areas not under wind signal in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, the Bicol Region, Mimaropa, the Visayas and Mindanao until Tuesday, the agency said.
Luzon and Panay Island would continue to experience rains until Wednesday, it added.
Babuyan Islands was placed under Tropical Wind Signal No. 5, while Signal No. 4 was hoisted over the southern portion of Batanes, the northern portion of mainland Cagayan and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte. Wind speeds of 118 kph to 185 kph were expected in these areas in the next 12 hours.
The rest of Batanes, the central portion of mainland Cagayan, the northern and central portions of Apayao and the rest of Ilocos Norte were placed under Signal No.3. Winds packing 89 kph to 117 kph may be expected in at least 18 hours, it added.
Signal No. 2 was hoisted over the rest of mainland Cagayan, Isabela, the rest of Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, the northern portion of Benguet, the northeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, Ilocos Sur and the northern portion of La Union.
Quirino, the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Benguet, the rest of La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, and the northern portion of Quezon were placed under Signal No. 1.
Authorities urged residents in high-risk areas to prepare for strong winds, storm surges, flooding and landslides. PAGASA also warned fisherfolk and operators of small vessels to avoid sailing in affected coastal waters. — E.A.A. Eva
