Heavy rains brought by the enhanced southwest monsoon triggered floods in several areas in Metro Manila in the Philippines yesterday, disrupting classes and work in both government and private offices.
Monsoon rains will persist today over Babuyan Islands, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, the Cordilleras, Ilocos region, Metro Manila, Occidental Mindoro, northern portion of Palawan including Calamian and Kalayaan Islands, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
PAGASA said Typhoon Fabian (In-fa) and Tropical Depression Cempaka continued to boost the southwest monsoon.
As of 4 p.m., the eye of Fabian was located 655 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, packing winds of 150 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph.
It was forecast to move west at 10 kph.
Cempaka, which was outside the Philippine area of responsibility, was spotted 1,145 km west of extreme Northern Luzon or in the vicinity of Maoming, Guangdong, China as of 3 p.m., with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph. It was moving west northwest slowly.
The enhanced southwest monsoon and Fabian will also bring rough to very rough seas with waves as high as 4.5 meters over the seaboards of Batanes and Babuyan Islands, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands and the western seaboard of Palawan including Kalayaan and Calamian Islands.
Moderate to rough seas of up to 3.5 meters high will also prevail over the eastern and rest of the northern and western seaboards of Luzon.
Fabian was forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday.
Eight crewmembers of a motorized banca and two fishermen were rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in the waters off Antique and Batangas, respectively, after their vessel capsized due to strong winds and heavy rain.
The M/B Roxanne with eight crewmembers sank in the waters off Semirara Island in Caluya, Antique.
The vessel was headed to the island from San Jose, Occidental Mindoro when it was battered by high waves and strong winds.
Meanwhile, the fishermen’s boat capsized in the waters off Cape Santiago Light Station in Calatagan, Batangas.