MANILA - Typhoon Rosita (Yutu) continues to threaten Luzon with possible landslides, storm surges and floods after making landfall in Dinapigue, Isabela before dawn Tuesday, the state weather bureau said.
Rosita made landfall in Dinapigue at 4 a.m. Tuesday, lashing the coastal town and nearby areas with fierce winds and rain.
At 7 a.m., the typhoon was spotted in the vicinity of Echague, Isabela and is heading towards Ifugao province. Rosita is packing 140 kph maximum sustained winds and 230 kph gusts, PAGASA said in an advisory.
Rosita's moderate to heavy rains may unleash floods and landslides in northern and central Luzon, the weather agency warned.
Storm surges of up to 3 meters, it added, are also possible over the coastal areas of Isabela, Aurora, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, La Union and Pangasinan.
Rosita will barrel through Isabela, Ifugao, Benguet and La Union provinces before leaving the Philippine area of responsibility late Wednesday, said PAGASA.
This satellite image from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows typhoon Yutu.
Storm signal 3 was raised over 10 areas, including Isabela, Quirino, Northern Aurora, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Benguet, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province and Pangasinan.
These areas could experience up to 170 kph winds that could damage light structures and cause moderate to heavy damage to agriculture, PAGASA said.
Signal 2 was up over Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Northern Quezon, Polillo Island, Southern Aurora, Zambales, Pampanga and Bulacan.
Signal 1, meanwhile, was hoisted over Metro Manila, the Babuyan islands, Rizal, Laguna, Batangas, Bataan and Cavite.
Rosita, the 18th typhoon to hit the country this year, comes 2 days before All Souls' Day, when millions of Filipino Catholics troop to cemeteries to honor their dead.
The typhoon has forced the cancellation of some boat trips and flights, as well as the suspension of school classes in several areas.
About half of the Philippines' 105 million population live in the Luzon region. The country is hit by an average 20 typhoons each year.
The typhoon caused havoc last week with a direct hit on the US Northern Mariana islands. - with a report from Reuters
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