PBBM orders LGUs to prepare for Super Typhoon Leon

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged local government units to prepare for the impact of Super Typhoon Leon, also known internationally as Kong-Rey.

He made this directive during the opening ceremony of the Maersk Optimus Distribution Center in Calamba City, Laguna, acknowledging Governor Ramil Hernandez's efforts for storm victims.

As of Wednesday morning, Leon intensified into a super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 185 kph and gusts up to 230 kph, moving west-northwestward.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 is in effect over Batanes, eastern Babuyan Islands, and northeastern mainland Cagayan, with other areas in Northern Luzon under Signal No. 2 and Signal No. 1.

Leon is forecast to be closest to Batanes from late evening Wednesday to Thursday morning, with a chance of landfall not being ruled out.

It is expected to make landfall along the eastern coast of Taiwan on Thursday and leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) the same day or early Friday morning.

The NDRRMC reported 145 deaths and 115 injuries due to Severe Tropical Storms Kristine and Leon as of Wednesday morning.

The Department of Agriculture reported P3.40 billion in damage to crops and agricultural infrastructure, equivalent to 174,087 metric tons of produce lost due to Kristine.