Defense Sec orders mandatory evacuation as Severe Tropical Storm Leon approaches

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. ordered mandatory evacuations in high-risk areas of Northern Luzon and Bicol Region due to Severe Tropical Storm Leon.

LGUs are urged to prioritize the evacuation of vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

As of Monday afternoon, Severe Tropical Storm Leon was located 725 kilometers east of Echague, Isabela, moving west-northwest at 15 kph.

PAGASA warned that Leon may intensify into a typhoon within 24 hours and potentially a super typhoon before nearing Batanes.

The storm's trough is expected to bring heavy to intense rains over Antique and moderate to heavy rains over several other provinces until Tuesday afternoon.

The Batangas provincial government is urging residents in flood-prone and landslide-stricken towns to voluntarily evacuate as Typhoon Leon intensifies.

Last week's Severe Tropical Storm Kristine left 60 people dead, four injured, and 14 missing in Batangas, with a total of 177,429 families affected across the region.