By Cristina Arayata
MANILA – More areas have been placed under Signal No. 1 as Typhoon Rosal (international name Champi) slightly intensified, the weather bureau said in its 5 p.m. bulletin on Friday.
Rosal, last located 385 km north northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, packs maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometer per hour (kph) near the center, and gustiness of up to 190 kph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
It is moving north northwestward at 20 kph.
Batanes remains under Signal No. 2 and will experience gale-force winds.
Strong winds will prevail in areas where Signal No. 1 is hoisted: northern portion of Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Lal-Lo, Santa Teresita, Camalaniugan, Aparri, Buguey, Gattaran, Baggao, Santa Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Ballesteros, Abulug, Allacapan, Lasam) including Babuyan Islands, northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Adams, Bangui, Vintar, Burgos, Bacarra, Pasuquin, Carasi, Dumalneg) and northern portion of Apayao (Calanasan, Luna, Santa Marcela, Flora, Pudtol)
PAGASA said most of Luzon and Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Misamis Occidental, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Davao Occidental and Davao Oriental will experience strong to gale-force gusts due to Rosal’s periphery.
Gale warning is in effect over the seaboards of Northern Luzon.
Meanwhile, the cyclone is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday, PAGASA added. (PNA)
