2 LPAs threatening Luzon, Mindanao
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is monitoring two lowpressure areas (LPAs), one of which could intensify into a tropical cylone within 24 hours.
The weather bureau located one of the LPAs 385 kilometers (km) west-northwest of Basco, Batanes or outside the country’s area of responsibility before Thursday noon and was expected to enter the country’s area of responsibility later.
PAGASA said this weather disturbance could develop into a tropical depression within 24 hours.
Once it intensifies, it will be given the local name “Ester.”
Meanwhile, another LPA estimated at 690 km east-southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur is less likely to become a tropical cyclone within the next 24 hours.
However, PAGASA said this LPA will bring cloudy skies with light to moderate to at times heavy rains over the Caraga and Davao regions.
This weekend, the southwest monsoon or “habagat” will continue to bring rains over Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Apayao, Batanes, Babuyan group of islands, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, and Batangas.
PAGASA warned residents in these areas, especially those living in lowlying and mountainous areas, of possible flash floods or landslides due to heavy rains.
The “habagat” will also bring cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms over Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon.
3 die Three persons died while another was injured in separate incidents in Baguio City and Mountain Province Wednesday due to the monsoon rains.
The Office of the Civil Defense Cordillera Regional Director Andrew Alex Uy said David Apaling, of Besao, Mt. Province reportedly fell into a ravine after he slipped while walking along the side of the road at the height of the heavy rains.
In Baguio City two persons – Engr. Patrick Lachica, 23, a project engineer and Hanah Jean Aragon, 22 – died when a landslide buried the temporary barracks of a construction firm Wednesday on Sandico St., Barangay Salud Mitra.
Lachica and Aragon were reportedly inside the barracks at about 3 p.m. when the landslide occurred.
Joshua Valencia, 24 of Magsaysay Loakan, Baguio City was injured when his leg was buried in a landslide that carried steel bars from an ongoing house construction. (With a report from Zaldy Comanda)