As of Monday Tropical Storm Yagi was moving slowly over the coastal waters near Vinzons town in Camarines Norte province. The storm recorded sustained winds of up to 75 kilometers per hour (kph) or 47 miles per hour and gusts reaching 90 kph. Yagi was advancing northwest at a sluggish pace of 10 kph along the eastern coast of Luzon.
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The slow movement of Storm Yagi has resulted in continuous heavy rainfall exacerbating the risk of flash floods and landslides in the mountainous provinces of Luzon.
An incident occurred in Naga City, Camarines Sur province, where a resident was electrocuted amidst the floodwaters. Authorities are investigating whether this death is directly related to the storm.
In Northern Samar province, coast guard personnel undertook rescue operations to evacuate 40 villagers from two communities engulfed by waist-high floods. The rescue teams used ropes to ensure the safety of those trapped by the rising waters.
Manila residents are advised to stay vigilant and take necessary precautions. Amber and Yellow Alerts in Nearby Provinces, an amber alert has been issued for Quezon Province, while a yellow warning level is in effect for Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Zambales and Nueva Vizcaya.
Malacañang has suspended classes in public and private schools across Metro Manila and other affected provinces. The suspension aims to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff amid the weather conditions.
The suspension extends to several other local governments in the Bicol Region, Southern Luzon and Central Luzon.
Tropical Storm Yagi is moving northwest at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour. It is expected to pass close to the eastern coast of Luzon, particularly the provinces of Isabela and Cagayan, by Monday evening.
Meteorologists predict that Storm Yagi’s core will soon organize under a central dense overcast (CDO) pattern leading to intensification. The storm may achieve Category 4 status with sustained winds of 110 knots and gusts up to 135 knots.
After moving past Luzon, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) anticipates that Storm Yagi will make a sharp left turn and head toward Hainan Island and the southern coast of China.
PAGASA has reported that areas such as Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales and Bataan are experiencing heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning and strong winds.
The densely populated areas along the Marikina River, which is prone to flooding were at risk. Authorities sounded sirens early in the morning.
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The stormy weather has affected transportation with sea travel temporarily halted at several ports. As a result around 2,400 ferry passengers and cargo workers were left stranded.
Nearly two dozen domestic flights were suspended.
Heavy downpours have also caused water levels at the Ipo Dam in Bulacan province to approach spilling levels. Authorities planned to release a minimal amount of water later on Monday.
Storm warnings were issued across a broad area of Luzon, the Philippines’ most populous region, as Storm Yagi continued its course. These warnings included Metro Manila, where preventive measures were taken to minimize the impact of the storm.
As of Monday morning, Signal No. 2 was raised over seven areas in Luzon.
Tropical Storm Yagi is expected to intensify possibly developing into a typhoon by Thursday. The Storm Yagi is projected to move closer to the coast of southern China after passing near the northern part of Luzon with impacts on regions such as Guangdong and Hainan Island.
The Hong Kong Observatory has indicated that it may issue the No. 1 standby signal on Tuesday. The weather in Guangdong is expected to deteriorate later in the week with strengthening winds, heavy squalls and swells predicted as Storm Yagi moves closer to the region.
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