‘Salome’ intensifies, expected to leave PAR Saturday

At least 22 areas, including Metro Manila, have been placed under tropical cyclone warning Signal No. 1 yesterday as the low pressure area (LPA) east of the country has intensified into tropical depression ‘Salome’ yesterday.

According to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Administrator Vicente Malano, rainshowers are expected in the Bicol Region, Southern Luzon and parts of Eastern Visayas as ‘Salome’ is expected to cross the country on its way to the West Philippine Sea.

Signal No. 1 was been raised over Metro Manila, Rizal, Bataan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Romblon, Marinduque, Quezon, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, and Biliran.

By Saturday, ‘Salome’ will no longer directly affect any part of the country as it is expected to leaves the Philippine area of responsibility.

Paciente said good weather will prevail over most parts of the country during the ASEAN summit next week.

As of1 p.m. yesterday, ‘Salome’ was 50 kilometers west northwest of Legaspi City.

It has maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 90 kilometers per hour, and is moving relatively fast westnorthwest at 25 kilometers per hour.

In Albay, classes in all levels in both public and private schools were suspended, according to PDRRMC Chairman and Governor Al Francis Bichara.

In Batangas City, more than 500 hundred passengers were stranded at the Batangas Port as authorities canceled cargo and passenger vessel trips bound for Calapan City, due to inclement weather.

City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) Operations and Warning Officer Julius Malantic said there were 540 passengers stranded at the port as of 10:45 a.m. (With a report from Lyka Manalo, Nino N. Luces)