MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Emong on Monday increased speed as it moved towards the Batanes-Babuyan Islands area, the state weather service said.
In its 5 p.m. severe weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Emong was last spotted 215 kilometers east-northeast of Calayan, Cagayan, or 160 km east-southeast of Basco, Batanes.
It is packing maximum sustained winds of 55 km per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph, moving northwestward at 45 kph, it added.
Pagasa said Emong may also intensify into a tropical storm within the next 12 hours, and “will pass close or make landfall …
Keep on reading: TD Emong accelerates as it approaches Batanes-Babuyan Islands area