Pagasa downgrades ‘Dindo’ storm signals

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has downgraded storm warning signals in some areas as tropical storm Dindo (international codename: Doksuri) moved away from the Philippines, Pagasa said Thursday afternoon, June 28.

In its 5 pm update, Pagasa said Dindo is moving in a west-northwest direction at 19 kilometers per hour (kph). The storm, however, continues to threaten extreme northern Luzon as it moves closer to the area.

Pagasa said Storm Signal No. 2 is still up in the following areas: 

• Cagayan including the Calayan and Babuyan Groups of Islands

• Batanes Group of Islands

• Apayao

• Ilocos Norte

Earlier, Pagasa placed 4 other areas under Signal No. 2.

The state weather bureau meanwhile placed the following areas under Signal No. 1:

• Abra

• Kalinga

• Isabela

• Ilocos Sur

• Mt Province

• Ifugao

• La Union

• Benguet

• Pangasinan

• Nueva Vizcaya

• Quirino

Pagasa has located the center of Dindo at 140 km north-northeast of Aparri, Cagayan. It is packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph, the state weather bureau said.

Pagasa expects Dindo to be out of the Philippine area of responsibility by Friday morning, June 29. It will issue another weather bulletin at 11 pm (Read Pagasa’s 5 pm weather bulletin below.)

No casualties 

Meanwhile, the government has monitored no casualties or missing persons from tropical storm Dindo, said National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive Benito Ramos in a press briefing Thursday.

Ramos, however, said Dindo has inflicted damage and has forced evacuations in affected areas.

In its 4 pm update, the NDRRMC said at least 295 families have been evacuated due to the storm.

Several roads also remain closed, the NDRRMC said. (Read the NDRRMC’s 4 pm report below.)

Floods also submerged roads in affected areas in Laoag, Ilocos Norte, which is under Storm Signal No 2.

Another province under Storm Signal No 2, Isabela, has meanwhile banned the sale of liquor to prevent untoward incidents during and immediately after the onslaught of Dindo.

The local government has not monitored the sale of liquor in the area, Isabela provincial spokesperson Maricel Ramil said in a television interview. – Rappler.com

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