'Chedeng' may be out of Philippines Sunday

05/27/2011 - The weather bureau on Friday said Typhoon Chedeng (international codename: Songda) may be out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility as early as 8 a.m. Sunday.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Chedeng has maintained its strength as it moves closer to Batanes area.

With this, storm signal no. 2 has been placed over Batanes Group of Islands and Babuyan Group of Islands.

Storm signal no. 1 is still up in the provinces of Apayao, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, and Aurora.

In its 11 a.m. Friday bulletin, Pagasa said Chedeng packed maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 230 kph.

Chedeng was spotted 210 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan and is moving north northwest at 19 kph, Pagasa added.

Pagasa said Chedeng will be 290 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes by Saturday morning and at 100 kilometers south of Okinawa, Japan by Sunday morning.

Residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under storm signals are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas are alerted against big waves or storm surges generated by this tropical cyclone.

Chedeng is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon and will bring rains over Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao including Metro Manila.

Pagasa also officially declared Friday the start of rainy season.

Meanwhile, disaster officials recorded one fatality due to Chedeng.

In a report by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the fatality, idetifed as Jaime Torillos, 70, of Barangay Biong, Gigmoto town in Catanduanes province, died on May 25 due to drowning (Sun Star)