TD Dante enhances monsoon, triggers evacuations

Tropical Depression Dante, the fourth tropical cyclone this year, is enhancing the southwest monsoon and was located 1,055 kilometers east of extreme northern Luzon.

It has maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 70 km/h, slightly strengthening from previous reports.

Dante is moving northwest at 25 km/h, and no landfall is expected in the Philippines.

The tropical depression is forecast to intensify slightly, possibly reaching tropical storm strength while moving northwest over the Philippine Sea and may exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Thursday evening.

The enhanced southwest monsoon will bring moderate to torrential rains over Luzon and Western Visayas.

Serious threats of widespread flood and landslides remain over Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Occidental Mindoro, and Metro Manila through Thursday evening.

Heavy rains in Metro Manila caused the Marikina River's water levels to reach the third alarm, prompting the evacuation of over 23,000 people.

A damaged floodgate in Navotas was cited as the cause of severe flooding in Malabon.