Northern Philippines remains on alert over Typhoon Jenny

Manila, Oct 3 (EFE).- The northern Philippines remains on alert Tuesday for the potential effects of Typhoon Jenny, which maintains its strength over the sea of the archipelago and has enhanced the usual heavy rains of the southwest monsoon period.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Agency informed Tuesday in its most recent bulletin of the risk of heavy rains and landslides induced by storms, especially in higher or mountainous areas.

It said the eye of the typhoon was located 350 kilometers from the town of Basco, in the northern province of Batanes, and maintained maximum sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 205 kmph.

“It is probably at or near maximum intensity,” the Agency said.

Authorities also said Jenny, heading toward Taiwan, is unlikely to make landfall in the Philippines, but the northernmost areas of the country are already beginning to prepare for severe rains, expected to last for the next three days.

Jenny is also expected to “continue to intensify the southwest monsoon and bring occasional rains over the western parts” of the island of Luzon, the country’s largest and most populous.

The Agency said a gale warning remains in effect for coastal waters along the northern and eastern coasts of Luzon and predicted “moderate to rough” seas in various parts of the archipelago, recommending that boaters take caution and avoid “venturing into the sea.”

The Philippines registers about 20 typhoons or tropical storms each year and suffered the destruction of Doksuri in July, which caused at least 25 deaths and a trail of destruction as it passed through the north of the archipelago. EFE

fil-nbo/lds