Philippines’ north braces for latest strong typhoon

By Roy Ramos

ZAMBOANGA CITY, the Philippines (AA) – The Philippines is bracing for a strong typhoon set to bring heavy rainfall to the archipelago’s north after an earlier storm left more than 4,500 families displaced this month.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its Monday morning advisory that the northernmost province of Batanes is expected to bear the brunt of Typhoon Megi -- locally known as Helen -- early Tuesday.

"Helen will come nearest to Batanes tomorrow morning. Batanes will experience strong winds and rains,” PAGASA meteorologist Jori Loiz told local radio station DZMM.

“But once Helen hits land, possibly in the afternoon, Helen will gradually weaken,” he was quoted as saying by news broadcaster ABS-CBN.

Other parts of the Philippines, from northern Luzon island to southern Mindanao and the Zamboanga Peninsula are expected to experience light to moderate downpour with isolated thunderstorms.

According to the state-run weather bureau, the typhoon was packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers (93 miles) per hour near the center and gusts of up to 185 km per hour early Monday.

The 800-kilometer diameter of Helen was hit by moderate to heavy rains, and the typhoon is expected to leave the Philippines’ area of responsibility Wednesday morning.

The Philippines suffers around 20 typhoons and storms each year, many of them deadly.

Earlier this month, Typhoon Meranti destroyed 2,241 houses in Batanes and displaced 4,588 families. The storm left around 30 people dead and 15 missing in China and Taiwan.

In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan -- one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded -- struck the country’s central islands, leaving more than 8,000 people dead, missing and injured.