THE STATE WEATHER bureau on Tuesday afternoon said super-typhoon Rosita (international name Yutu) is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Wednesday evening at the latest.
According to its update on 5:00 p.m. of Tuesday, Oct. 30, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) also said the country may expect better weather by Thursday, when Filipinos observe the traditional visit to the dead on All Saints’ Day.
In its press briefing as of Tuesday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that the provinces of Isabela, Quirino, Northern Aurora, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Benguet, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province, and Pangasinan were still under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal Number 3.
The NDRRMC said a total of 364 cities and municipalities in Regions I (Ilocos Region), II (Cagayan Valley), III (Central Luzon), IV-A (Calabarzon), and V (Bicol Region), as well as the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and National Capital Region have suspended classes due to the typhoon.
In Regions I, II, III, and CAR, 10,122 individuals or 2,928 families were preemptively evacuated, the agency said.
Twenty-four domestic flights and six international flights were cancelled on Tuesday.
According to a report by the Cagayan Valley office of NDRRMC, there is no power available in Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, and Nueva Vizcaya. But communication lines are available.
The 18th typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, Rosita swept across the main island of Luzon on Tuesday morning with wind speeds of 140 km per hour (87 mph) and gusts of up to 230 kph, and was expected to exit in the afternoon.
The typhoon comes just six weeks after super-typhoon Ompong (international name Mangkhut) dumped massive rains on Luzon, triggering landslides that killed more than 70 people.
There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. — reports by Reuters and Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

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