Tropical Storm Emong weakens, suspends Luzon classes

Severe Tropical Storm Emong weakened into a tropical storm on Friday evening after making landfall near Candon City, Ilocos Sur late Thursday and is expected to move northeastward through Northern Luzon.

Wind Signal No. 3 covers parts of Ilocos Norte (Dumalneg, Pagudpud, Adams, Burgos, Bangui), Apayao (Calanasan, Luna, Santa Marcela), Batanes, and Babuyan Islands; Wind Signal No. 2 applies to the rest of specified areas including northern mainland Cagayan.

Emong is currently located near Calanasan, Apayao with maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h and gustiness up to 160 kph; it may pass close or over Batanes and Babuyan Islands by Friday afternoon or evening before exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility Saturday morning.

Wind Signal No. 2 is raised for northern Abra, Batanes, and western mainland Cagayan while Wind Signal No. 1 covers other regions including Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and Northern Mindanao.

Due to continuous heavy rains brought by Emong and the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat), classes have been suspended on Friday across parts of Luzon; a total of 3,849,624 people or 1,065,779 families have been affected by bad weather in all regions except Eastern Visayas.

The reported death toll due to Tropical Cyclones Crising, Dante, Emong and the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) has increased to 25 as of Friday morning.