#MarioPH: Batanes remains under Signal No. 1

Manila, Philippines (UPDATED) – Tropical Storm Mario (Fung-Wong) has slightly weakened as it continues to move away from the Philippines, hitting land over Southern Taiwan, state weather bureau PAGASA said in its Sunday, September 21, bulletin. 

Only the Batanes Group of Islands remains under signal number 1 as of 11am Sunday. 

The storm continues to be in the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). It is expected to be out of PAR Monday morning, September 21. 

The eye of Mario was located as of 10 am Sunday at 174 km northwest of Itbayat, Batanes. It has slightly weakened with maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 100kph as it made landfall over Southern Taiwan.

Batanes is expected to experience winds of 30-60 kph in the next 24 hours. 

“Estimated rainfall amount is from 7 – 15 mm per hour (moderate – heavy) within the 400 km diameter of the Tropical Storm,” said PAGASA.

Monsoon rains with moderate to occasionally strong winds will be experienced in the following areas due to the combined effect of Southwest Monsoon and Tropical Storm Mario:

• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• Benguet
• Zambales
• Bataan 

PAGASA warned fisherfolk and operators of small seacraft in north and central Luzon not to venture out to the sea.

At least 10 were reported dead from Mario, mostly from Metro Manila, based on separate reports from National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRC) and the Philippine Red Cross. Over 700,000 persons were affected in Regions 3, 4-A, 4-B, 7, CAR, and NCR. – Rappler.com