SEVERE Tropical Storm Tino (international name Kalmaegi) has intensified into a typhoon as it moves closer to Eastern Visayas, prompting the weather bureau to raise higher tropical cyclone wind signals over several provinces on Monday morning.
In its 11 a.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the center of Tino was located 285 kilometers east-southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph. The typhoon is moving west-southwest at 25 kph.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 is now in effect over parts of Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Camotes Islands, eastern Bohol, Dinagat Islands, and northern Surigao del Norte including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands. These areas may experience storm-force winds and moderate to significant threats to life and property within 18 hours.
Areas under Signal No. 2 include portions of Masbate, Samar, Leyte, Biliran, Cebu, Bohol, Negros, Guimaras, Iloilo, Capiz, and Surigao provinces, while broader parts of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao remain under Signal No. 1.
