Residents in low-lying coastal areas are advised to avoid the coast and cancel marine activities due to a storm surge threat from the approaching Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine” (international name “Trami”).
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued a storm surge warning at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23, due to the potential rise in sea levels in nine provinces in Luzon.
“A moderate to high risk of storm surge may occur in the next 48 hours. There is a possibility of inundation due to rising seawater along with high waves in the low-lying coastal communities,” PAGASA said in its advisory.
The areas at risk are Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Isabela, Zambales, Aurora, and Quezon.
As of 8 p.m., the center of Kristine was located 150 kilometers east of Echague, Isabela, with maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts reaching up to 115 kph.
The storm is moving northwestward at 15 and is nearing landfall in Isabela.