Heavy to intense rains expected in North Luzon as 'Dindo' moves closer to the region - Pagasa

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InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

MANILA, Philippines - Residents of Northern Luzon are told to brace for Tropical Storm "Dindo" as it continued to move closer to the area on Thursday, threatening to dump "heavy to intense" rains in the region. 

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Dindo is now closer to extreme Northern Luzon at 140 kilometers north northeast of Aparri, Cagayan. It packs maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph, moving west northwest at 19 kph.

Storm Signal Number 2 remains hoisted over the provinces of Cagayan, Calayan Group of Islands, Babuyan Group of Islands, Batanes Group of Islands, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte. 

Meanwhile, Storm Signal Number 1 is raised over Abra, Kalinga, Isabela, Ilocos Sur, Mt. Province, Ifugao,La Union, Benguet, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino.

Dindo is expected to dump "heavy to intense" rains over areas within its 400 kilometer diameter, according to Pagasa.  

It is also expected to enhance the Southwest Monsoon and bring rains over Southern Luzon and Visayas particularly over the western section.

In its latest monitor, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said continuous rains in Northern Luzon had resulted in the closure of the region's major highways.

In the Cordillera Region, the following roads have been closed to traffic:

-Baguio-Bontoc Road (K0390+300, Tiktik Section) closed due to massive slide;

-Kabayan-Buguias-Abayan Road KM 355+100 (Alapang Section), Benguet closed due to landslide

- Sabangan Bridge- Baguio-Bontoc Road Km 347+400 Sabangan Section closed to traffic for repairs

The following roads in the Ilocos Region are also mostly impassable: 

- Narvacan-Sulvec Road (Secondary National Road), Ilocos Sur not passable due to collapsed seawall

- San Emilio-Quirino Road, Ilocos Sur not passable due to muddy road surface

- Buagao Bridge, Km 551+609, Manila North Road (MNR), Bangi, IlocosNorte - both detour roads impassable due to high water level

- Gasgas Bridge Km 471-839 Manila North Road (MNR), between Batac City and

-San Nicholas, Ilocos Norte - weak bridge, two-ton load limit passable one at a  time to all vehicles.

In Cagayan, the Bagunot Overflow Bridge and Abusag Overflow  Bridge in Baggao town and the Tawi Overflow Bridge in Penablanca, Cagayan are also impassable due to heavy rains.

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