Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 10)— Parts of northern Luzon were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 on Friday as Typhoon Kiko maintained its strength, the state weather bureau said.
In its 11 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands and Batanes were placed under Signal No. 4 – where “very destructive typhoon-force winds” are expected within 12 hours.
Signal No. 3, on the other hand, was hoisted over the extreme northeastern portion of Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga), and the rest of Babuyan Islands.
Meanwhile, the following areas were placed under Signal No. 2: northern, central, and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan (Aparri, Camalaniugan, Lal-Lo, Gattaran, Baggao, Peñablanca, Buguey, Santa Teresita, Tuguegarao City, Iguig, Amulung, Alcala, Lasam, Ballesteros, Abulug, Allacapan, Claveria, Santa Praxedes, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Santo Niño), the northeastern portion of Isabela (San Pablo, Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan), and the northern portion of Apayao (Calanasan, Luna, Pudtol, Flora, Santa Marcela).
PAGASA raised Signal No. 1 over the following areas: The rest of mainland Cagayan, the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Adams, Dumalneg, Bangui, Vintar, Carasi, Nueva Era, Piddig, Solsona, Burgos, Pasuquin, Bacarra, Laoag City, San Nicolas, Sarrat, Dingras), the rest of Apayao, the northern portion of Kalinga (Balbalan, Pinukpuk, City of Tabuk, Rizal), the eastern portion of Mountain Province (Paracelis), the northeastern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Malibcong), and the northwestern and southeastern portions of Isabela (Dinapigue, Palanan, San Mariano, City of Cauayan, Cabatuan, Aurora, Luna, Benito Soliven, Naguilian, Reina Mercedes, Ilagan City, Quezon, Burgos, Tumauini, San Manuel, Santo Tomas, Roxas, Santa Maria, Mallig, Quirino, Cabagan, Delfin Albano, Gamu).
Kiko was last spotted 135 kilometers east southeast of Calayan, Cagayan – still packing maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 265 kph.
PAGASA said Kiko will move northwest or north northwest over the coastal waters of northeastern mainland Cagayan, Babuyan Islands, and Batanes. There is a high possibility that it will have its landfall over any of the islands of the Batanes-Babuyan Archipelago, the agency added.
The typhoon is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility Sunday evening or Monday morning.
