More areas in Luzon, Visayas under Signal no. 2 as 'Kristine' intensifies

More areas in Luzon and the Visayas have been placed under tropical cyclone wind signal no. 2 Wednesday as tropical storm Kristine slightly intensified over the sea east of Quezon.

As of 4 a.m., Kristine’s center was estimated based on all available data at 340 km East of Infanta, Quezon or 180 km North Northeast of Virac, Catanduanes.

Packing 85 kph winds and gusts of up to 105 kph, the storm is moving west northwestward at 25 kph, with strong to gale-force winds extending outwards up to 850 km from the center.

Kristine is forecast to gradually intensify into a severe tropical storm before making landfall over Isabela or northern Aurora Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.

It will then cross the mountainous terrain of Northern Luzon and emerge over the waters west of Ilocos Region Thursday afternoon.

Naga City, Camarines Sur now flooded due to #KristinePH; LGU calls for addt'l rescue vehicles

Signal no. 2 indicating gale-force winds is hoisted in the following areas:

Luzon

Ilocos Norte, 

Ilocos Sur, 

La Union, 

Pangasinan, 

Apayao, 

Abra, 

Kalinga, 

Mountain Province, 

Ifugao, 

Benguet, 

mainland Cagayan, 

Isabela, 

Quirino, 

Nueva Vizcaya, 

Aurora, 

Nueva Ecija, 

Tarlac, 

the northern portion of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig), 

the northern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Miguel, San Ildefonso), 

the northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta)  including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, 

the northern and eastern portions of Camarines Sur (Calabanga, Goa, Tigaon, Sagñay, San Jose, Lagonoy, Tinambac, Siruma, Garchitorena, Presentacion, Caramoan), 

Catanduanes, 

the eastern portion of Albay (Rapu-Rapu, Bacacay, City of Tabaco, Malilipot, Malinao, Tiwi, Manito, Santo Domingo)

the eastern portion of Sorsogon (Barcelona, Gubat, Prieto Diaz, City of Sorsogon)

Visayas

The northeastern portion of Northern Samar (Palapag, Mapanas, Gamay, Laoang, Catubig, Lapinig, Pambujan, San Roque) 

Northern portion of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, San Policarpo, Arteche)

TCWS No. 1 indicating strong winds is hoisted in the following areas: 

Luzon

Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Pampanga, the rest of Zambales, Bataan, the rest of Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, the rest of Quezon, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Calamian Islands, the rest of Camarines Sur, the rest of Albay, the rest of Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, and Calamian Islands 

Visayas

Aklan, Capiz, Antique including Caluya Islands, Iloilo, Guinaras, the northern portion of Negros Occidental (Pontevedra, La Castellan, Moises Padilla, Bago City, La Carlota City, Valladolid, Pulupandan, Bacolod City, San Enrique, Murcia, Silay City, City of Talisay, Enrique B. Magalona, Manapla, City of Victorias, Cadiz City, Sagay City, City of Escalante, Toboso, Calatrava, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City), the northern portion of Negros Oriental (Vallehermoso, Canton City, City of Guihulngan), the northern and central portions of Cebu (Alcantara, Argao, Dumanjug, Sibonga, Pinamungahan, Ronda, Liloan, Cebu City, Moalboal, Consolacion, Danao City, Borbon, Carmen, Daanbantayan, Tuburan, City of Bogo, Tabogon, City of Naga, Lapu-Lapu City, City of Carcar, Mandaue City, Catmon, Minglanilla, Toledo City, Cordova, Compostela, San Remigio, Balamban, Aloguinsan, San Fernando, Asturias, Barili, Medellin, Sogod, Tabuelan, City of Talisay) including Bantayan Islands and Camotes Islands, Bohol, the rest of Eastern Samar, the rest of Northern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Biliran, and Southern Leyte 

Mindanao

Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte including Siargao - Bucas Grande Group

Weather bureau PAGASA said gale-force gusts are expected in MIMAROPA, Visayas, and Mindanao.

“There is a moderate to significant risk of life-threatening storm surge in the next 48 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Isabela, Zambales, Aurora, and Catanduanes,” it said.

7 regions placed under highest level of emergency preparedness over ‘Kristine’