By Ellalyn de Vera Ruiz
Tropical cyclone “Ramon” (international name ‘Kalmaegi’) has weakened into a severe tropical storm after making landfall over Santa Ana, Cagayan around 12:20 a.m. Wednesday.
(PAGASA/ MANILA BULLETIN)
As of 5 a.m. Wednesday, “Ramon” remains a strong cyclone although it has been downgraded from a typhoon to a severe tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 165 kph, according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather specialist Loriedin dela Cruz.
PAGASA has lowered tropical cyclone warnings but Signal No. 2 remains hoisted over Batanes, Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur.
Signal No. 1 is still up in northern Isabela (Sta. Maria, San Pablo, Maconacon, Cabagan, Sto. Tomas, Quezon, Delfin Albano, Tumauini, Divilacan, Quirino, Roxas, Mallig, San Manuel, Burgos, Gamu, and Ilagan City), Mountain Province, Benguet, Ifugao, La Union, and Pangasinan.
Aside from “Ramon,” PAGASA is also monitoring another cyclone, as it could also make landfall over Cagayan province before weekend.
Tropical depression “Sarah” was estimated at 510 km east-northeast of Virac, Catanduanes or 750 km east of Infanta, Quezon at around 5 a.m. Wednesday.
It has maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph, and is moving northwest at 25 kph.
Due to “Sarah’s” impending landfall, Signal No. 1 was raised in eastern Cagayan (Aparri, Baggao Alcala, Gattaran, Lal-lo, Tuguegarao City, Peñablanca, Iguig, Amulung, Santa Teresita, Camalaniugan, Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Buguey, Ballesteros ,and Calayan) and northeastern Isabela (Divilacan, Tumauini, Cabagan, Maconacon, and San Pablo).
Dela Cruz advised residents in areas affected by the weather disturbances to take extra precaution from possible flash floods or landslides due to already saturated soil. (Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz)