PAGASA: 'Lawin' Weakens

Super typhoon Lawin has weakened and is now off the coast of Ilocos Norte.

PAGASA said "Lawin" is expected to leave Ilocos Norte between 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility tonight.

As of 7 a.m., the eye of Typhoon Lawin was located 40 km northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, packing maximum winds of up to 185 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph.

Signal Nos. 5 and 4 have been lifted.

As of 8:00 a.m., Signal No. 3 is up in Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Ifugao, Abra, Ilocos Sur, and the Calayan Group of Islands.

Signal No. 2 is hoisted over Batanes Group of Islands, La Union, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Pangasinan, Aurora, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Northern Zambales.

Signal No. 1 is raised over the rest of Zambales, Bulacan, Bataan, and Pampanga.

PAGASA said heavy to intense and moderate to occasionally heavy rains are expected in affected areas.

Weather forecasters also warned the public against sea travel over the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon and the northern and eastern seaboards of Samar.

Wrath of Typhoon Lawin
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has not confirmed any casualties due to Typhoon Lawin. NDRRMC Spokesperson Mina Marasigan said the agency is still verifying two reported deaths in Isabela.

Based on the initial assessment of the NDRRMC, the typhoon has affected 61,126 persons in 118 barangays in Regions 1,2,3, and 5, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).