Gale warning still up; small boats remain grounded

BOAT trips from Cebu port remained suspended yesterday.

The   Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has not lifted the gale warning in the Visayas.

At least 22 vessels of 250 gross tonnage and below were not allowed to leave various Cebu ports, Coast Guard officials said.

Engr. Alfredo Quiblat, chief meteorological officer of Pagasa Mactan, said typhoon Hanna continued to enhance the southwest monsoon rains and winds.

He warned against possible landslides and flooding.

“The landslide-prone areas are in the western part of the country, Panay Island and the whole Negros, because there’s a concentration of heavy rain clouds in those areas due to the southwest monsoon,” he said.

Light to moderate rains will continue  in Central Visayas today.

As of 7 p.m yesterday, typhoon Hanna was spotted 235 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes.

It  weakened a bit with  sustained  winds of 165 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 200 kph.

The storm  is moving west-northwest at 20 kilometers per hour.

Hanna is expected to be out of the Philippine area of responsibility tonight and make a landfall in northern Taiwan.

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