Sunday, September 21, 2008

Tropical storm "Nina" Iinternational codename: Hagupit

Tropical storm "Nina" (international codename: Hagupit) intensified as it moved toward the eastern coast of central Philippines last night, the state weather bureau said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) placed nine provinces under public storm signal number 1 as Nina's center was located about 490 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes at 10 p.m.

About 200 people were reported stranded in the ports of Virac and Tabaco City in Albay as of noon Saturday after the Philippine Coast Guard halted sea voyage there.

In its 11 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Nina was moving west-northwest at about 15 kilometers per hour, with maximum sustained winds of about 105 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 135 kilometers per hour.

Nina was expected to be 195 kilometers northeast of Virac by Sunday evening and 80 kilometers northeast of Casiguran, Aurora by Monday evening. It was forecast to be 90 kilometers north-northwest of Laoag City by Tuesday evening.

Public storm signal number 1 has been hoisted over the provinces of Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Legaspi, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Western Samar and Eastern Samar.

The storm was expected to enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rains over Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

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