Habagat, TD ‘Luis’ bringing rains

The southwest monsoon (habagat) and the low-pressure area that will enter the Philippine area of responsibility will bring rains over the western section of Southern Luzon, eastern and western Visayas, and the eastern section of Mindanao.

In its latest weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said "Luis" is the local name of the LPA that develops into a tropical depression at 8 a.m. on Wednesday.

"Luis" was last tracked over over extreme Northern Luzon and is forecast to move north-northwestward in the next 24 hours before turning generally northeastward Thursday evening.

The tropical depression packs maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.

PAGASA has not yet hoisted any tropical cyclone wind signal due to "Luis" as it is unlikely to directly affect the sea conditions over the coastal waters of the country.

"Luis" is forecast to exit the northern boundary of the PAR by Thursday evening or early afternoon and set to intensify into a tropical storm within the next 24 hours.

PAGASA noted that further intensification is likely while it moves over the sea east of the southern Ryukyu Islands.

Meanwhile, The number of deaths due to super typhoon "Karding" has climbed to 10 while eight individuals are still missing according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Wednesday.

A total of 39,893 families or equivalent to 157,023 individuals residing in 1,318 barangays from Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol and the Cordillera Administrative Region have so far been affected by the super typhoon.

NDRRMC said around 574 evacuation centers are currently sheltering 8,825 families or 37,135 individuals while the rest are being assisted by their relatives and friends.

NDRRMC deputy spokesperson Raffy Alejandro, in a Viber message to reporters, said drowning incidents resulted in the death of eight individuals in Bulacan, Zambales and in Tanay Rizal.

The authorities also recorded a landslide incident in Barangay Aluyon, Burdeos, Quezon province while one motor accident in Zambales that added to the total death toll caused by "Karding."

In a related development, The Department of Public Works and Highways on Wednesday reported that the partial cost of damage to national roads, bridges, and flood-control structures on account of typhoon "Karding" was estimated at P135.09 million.

As of Wednesday, 28 September, the estimated cost of repairing roads, bridges and flood-control structures was P34.71 million, P22.39 million, and P77.99 million, respectively. Field validation will be applied to the provided cost.

Infrastructure damage totals P19.6 million in the Cordillera Administrative Region, P9.11 million in Cagayan Valley, P91.38 million in Central Luzon, P3 million in MIMAROPA and P12 million in Western Visayas.