Slow-moving Typhoon Lando continues to weaken

MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Lando (Koppu) has weakened overnight as it slowly crossed the Cordilleras, state weather bureau PAGASA said Monday, October 19.

As of 4 am Monday, Lando’s center was located in the vicinity of Santiago, Ilocos Sur, with winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 150 km/h.

Most of central and northern Luzon remain under storm warning signals. (READ: Calls for help in Central Luzon surge)

Public storm warning signal number 2 is in effect over the following places:

• Benguet
• Cagayan
• Ilocos Sur
• Pangasinan
• La Union
• Ilocos Norte
• Ifugao
• Mountain Province
• Kalinga
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Apayao
• Abra

Meanwhile, signal number 1 is currently hoisted over these areas:

• Zambales
• Tarlac
• Pampanga
• Bulacan
• Nueva Ecija
• Quirino
• Aurora
• Isabela
• Batanes 
• Metro Manila

Storm warnings in all other places have been lowered.

Areas within the storm’s 500 km diameter can expect heavy to intense rainfall.

Lando is forecast to move north northeast, still at a speed of 5 km/h, and is expected to remain within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) for most of the week.

The next bulletin on Lando will be issued at 11 am.

Officials said Lando has killed a 14-year-old boy and forced 23,000 others to flee their homes.

It has also prompted local governments to implement measures such as Manila’s “no-walk zone” along Manila Bay.  – Rappler.com