‘Paeng’ strengthens, ‘endangers’ northern Luzon



Associated Press, INQ7.net
Last updated 08:36pm (Mla time) 10/29/2006


(3RD UPDATE) TYPHOON Paeng continued to strengthen and gain speed, and now “endangers” northern Luzon with winds of 195 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, gusting to 230 kph, the state weather bureau said.

The typhoon is expected to make landfall over Isabela province early Sunday night and cut across northern Luzon before emerging into the South China Sea.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has raised public storm warning signal number 4 over Isabela, southern Cagayan, Quirino and northern Aurora.

The storm signal level is given when winds exceed 185 kph.

Signal number 3, or winds of between 100 to 184 kph, is now up over the rest of Cagayan and Aurora, Apayao, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Ifugao and Nueva Viscaya; while signal number 2, or winds of 60 to 100 kph, has been raised over the Calayan group of islands, the Ilocos provinces, Abra, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, northern Bulacan, northern Quezon and Polillo Island.

Catanduanes, Albay, the rest of Quezon, Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, the rest of Bulacan and Rizal province have been placed on signal number 1, meaning winds of between 30 to 60 kph.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who is in China, joined by telephone an emergency meeting of disaster-response officials and appealed to authorities and residents in the four northern provinces expected to be hit by Paeng to brace for the worst.

"I appeal to you not to venture out if there is no need for that. Let's follow the order of our officials and let us all pray," Arroyo said in a message broadcast over nationwide radio.

At noon Sunday, PAGASA placed Paeng at 150 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora, or 250 kilometers southeast of Tuguegarao, Cagayan, moving west northwest at 19 kph.

Residents in areas where storm signals have been raised are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides while those along the eastern coast of Luzon are advised to watch out for storm surges or big waves.

By Monday morning, Paeng is expected to be 90 kilometers northwest of Dagupan City or 100 kilometers west northwest of Baguio City. On Tuesday it is forecast to be 430 kilometers west southwest of Iba, Zambales

Paeng, the 16th weather disturbance to affect the country this year, could mess up travel plans and the observance by many of All Saints' Day on Wednesday, when millions troop to cemeteries to remember their dead.

Some travel days in advance to provinces to pay homage to their dead.
The Office of Civil Defense said disaster-response teams in provinces along the typhoon's path were on standby to evacuate or rescue people.

Here is the latest sattelite update on Typhoon "Paeng" aka " CIMARON" International Code name





Typhoon "PAENG" has maintained its strength and continues to move closer to Isabela and threatens Northern Luzon.
Location of Center:
(as of 4:00 p.m.) 120 kms east of Casiguran, Aurora or at
210 kms southeast of Tuguegarao, Cagayan
Coordinates: 16.4°N 123.6°E
Strength: Maximum sustained winds of 195 kph near the center
gustiness of up to 230 kph

Movement: west northwest at 19 kph

Forecast Positions / Outlook: Early tonight:
landfall over Isabela then will cross Northern Luzon
Monday afternoon:
120 kms west northwest of Dagupan City or
130 kms west of Baguio City
Tuesday afternoon:
470 kms west southwest of Iba, Zambales

see the link:PAG-ASA