Typhoon Emong weakens, makes landfall in Ilocos Sur

Typhoon Emong has weakened into a severe tropical storm and made landfall in Candon City, Ilocos Sur.

As of Friday evening, Emong was located some 260 kilometers east-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 75 kph and gustiness of up to 90 kph, while moving northeast.

The storm is expected to further weaken before exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday morning.

The enhanced southwest monsoon is predicted to bring significant rainfall across Luzon through Saturday.

Torrential rains are likely in Occidental Mindoro, Ilocos Region, Benguet, and Abra on Friday.

PAGASA has raised Signal No. 2 over northern Ilocos Norte, northern Apayao, Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and northwestern Cagayan.

Signal No. 1 is in effect for several other areas in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, mainland Cagayan, and parts of Isabela.

Twenty-five individuals were reported dead from the onslaught of the southwest monsoon and three tropical cyclones as of 6 a.m. on Friday, with three deaths validated in Central Luzon, Northern Mindanao, and the Caraga region.