Severe tropical storm Kristine as of 7:00 p.m. on October 23, 2024. Handout/PAGASA

MANILA (UPDATE) -- Weather disturbance "Kristine" has intensified into a severe tropical storm Wednesday afternoon, the state weather bureau said. 

In its 8 p.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 is hoisted in the following areas, where there is a threat of storm-force winds: 

-- Isabela

-- Kalinga

-- Mountain Province

-- Ifugao

-- Central portion of Abra (Malibcong, Licuan-Baay, Sallapadan, Daguioman, Bucloc, Boliney, Tubo, Luba, Manabo, Bucay, Villaviciosa, Pilar, San Isidro, Peñarrubia)

-- Benguet

-- Quirino

-- Nueva Vizcaya

-- Northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler), Northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Lupao, San Jose City, Pantabangan)

-- Pangasinan

-- La Union

-- Central and southern portions of Ilocos Sur (Cervantes, Quirino, Sigay, Suyo, Alilem, Sugpon, Tagudin, Santa Cruz, Salcedo, Gregorio del Pilar, San Emilio, Lidlidda, Burgos, San Esteban, Santiago, Banayoyo, Galimuyod, City of Candon, Santa Lucia, Nagbukel, Santa Maria, Narvacan) 

Signal No. 2, meanwhile, is raised over the following areas:

-- Ilocos Norte

-- Rest of Ilocos Sur

-- Apayao

-- Rest of Abra

-- Cagayan including Babuyan Islands

-- Rest of Aurora

-- Rest of Nueva Ecija

-- Bulacan

-- Tarlac

-- Pampanga

-- Zambales

-- Bataan

-- Metro Manila

-- Cavite

-- Laguna

-- Rizal

-- Quezon including Polillo Islands

-- Camarines Norte

-- Camarines Sur

-- Catanduanes

Signal No. 1 is likewise raised over the following areas:

-- Batanes

-- Batangas

-- Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands

-- Oriental Mindoro

-- Marinduque

-- Romblon

-- Calamian Islands

-- Albay

-- Sorsogon

-- Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands 

-- Aklan

-- Capiz

-- Antique including Caluya Islands

-- Iloilo

-- Guimaras

-- Northern portion of Negros Occidental (Pontevedra, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Bago City, La Carlota City, Valladolid, Pulupandan, Bacolod City, San Enrique, Murcia, Silay City, City of Talisay, Enrique B. Magalona, Manapla, City of Victorias, Cadiz City, Sagay City, City of Escalante, Toboso, Calatrava, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City)

-- Northern portion of Negros Oriental (Vallehermoso, Canlaon City, City of Guihulngan)

-- Northern and central portions of Cebu (Alcantara, Argao, Dumanjug, Sibonga, Pinamungahan, Ronda, Liloan, Cebu City, Moalboal, Consolacion, Danao City, Borbon, Carmen, Daanbantayan, Tuburan, City of Bogo, Tabogon, City of Naga, Lapu-Lapu City, City of Carcar, Mandaue City, Catmon, Minglanilla, Toledo City, Cordova, Compostela, San Remigio, Balamban, Aloguinsan, San Fernando, Asturias, Barili, Medellin, Sogod, Tabuelan, City of Talisay) including Bantayan Islands and Camotes Islands

-- Bohol

-- Eastern Samar

-- Northern Samar

-- Samar

-- Leyte

-- Biliran

-- Southern Leyte 

-- Dinagat Islands

-- Surigao del Norte including Siargao - Bucas Grande Group

As of 7 p.m., the center of Kristine was last located 150 kilometers east of Echague, Isabela, packing maximum sustained winds of up to 95 kilometers per hour, with gusts of up to 115 kph.

It is currently moving northwestward at 15 kph. PAGASA said it is expected to continue moving generally northwest for the next 12 hours, before turning westward.

Track and intensity forecast of severe tropical storm Kristine as of 8:00 p.m. on October 23, 2024. Handout/PAGASAKristine is forecast to make landfall over Isabela between Wednesday night to early Thursday morning. PAGASA also said it may continue to intensify until it makes landfall.

It may exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Friday.

Philippine rescuers waded through chest-deep flood waters Wednesday to reach residents trapped by Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami), which has killed seven people and forced thousands to evacuate as it barrels toward the east coast.

Torrential rain driven by the storm has turned streets into rivers, submerged entire villages and buried some vehicles in volcanic sediment set loose by the downpour.

At least 32,000 people have fled their homes in the northern Philippines, police said, as the storm edges closer to the Southeast Asian country's main island of Luzon.

In the Bicol region, about 400 kilometers (249 miles) southeast of the capital Manila, "unexpectedly high" flooding was complicating rescue efforts, said police.

7 dead, thousands evacuated as 'Kristine' batters Philippines

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