New storm spotted as 'Butchoy' leaves Philippines

MANILA (2nd Update, 12:40 p.m.) – Typhoon Butchoy (international codename: Guchol) is expected to leave the Philippines Monday night or Tuesday morning, but the weather bureau spotted a new tropical storm in extreme northern Luzon.

At 10 a.m. Monday, the eye of Typhoon Butchoy was located based on satellite and surface data at 580 kilometers (km) east northeast of Basco, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 160 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 195 kph. "Butchoy" is forecast to move north northeast at 24 kph.

Another tropical storm with international name Talim was estimated at 820 km west of extreme northern Luzon. It has maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph. It is forecast to remain almost stationary.

Although the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Typhoon Butchoy is blowing toward southern Japan after triggering heavy rains and minor landslides in the northern Philippines, heavy rains are still expected over Luzon due to the southwest monsoon.

Pagasa said Luzon will have occasional rains becoming frequent over the western sections of northern and central Luzon that may trigger flash floods and landslides. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms, Pagasa added.

Several local government units and school administrators in Metro Manila and nearby Rizal and Bulacan provinces suspended classes on Monday due to heavy rains brought by Typhoon Buchoy.

Heavy rains caused flooding in several low-lying areas of Metro Manila, including the Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) area.

Classes were suspended in public pre-schools and secondary schools in San Mateo, Rizal; Malabon City; Marikina City; Obando, Bulacan; University of the East Caloocan; Anima Christi Academy (Batasan Hills, QC); Upstreet Kids School House (Fairview, QC); Emerald Valley Christian Academy (Pasig City); Headway School for Giftedness QC; King Solomon Christian School International (Tatalon and Fairview branches); Our Lady of Angels Learning Center (Valenzuela); J-Priam School (QC); Colegio de Sta. Cecilia (Valenzuela); JC Wolim Christian School (Tandang Sora); Little Lazaret Christian Academy (Quezon City); Progeny Ardent School; Notre Dame of Metro Manila-Caloocan; Saint Mark International Academy; Faith Christian Academy; New Era University; Nuestra Señora De Guia Academy of Marikina; Marikina Christian Integrated School; St. Joseph Academy Valenzuela; Systems Plus Computer College Caloocan; St. Dominique Academy of QC; Pledge of Love School (Caloocan); Miraculous Lady of Peace Academy Novaliches; Notre Dame of Greater Manila; Saint Mark International Academy; Progeny Ardent School; Rosa Susano Elementary School Novaliches; Kings Montessori School Bagbag Novaliches; Miraculous Lady of Peace Academy Novaliches; Child Academy (QC); Castleville Academy; Eastern Star Academy; Little Lazaret Christian Academy; Commonwealth Academy; Salvador Araneta Memorial Institute (Malabon); East Baesa Academy of QC; Holy Trinity Multiple Intelligence Learning Center Caloocan; and Jerusalem Christian Academy of Novaliches.

Pagasa maintained fishing boats and other small sea crafts are advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas due to big waves.

Typhoon Butchoy is expected to be at 1,030 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes or at 290 kilometers east northeast of Okinawa, Japan by Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, President Benigno Aquino III ordered Friday two government ships guarding a disputed South China Sea shoal back to port because of the bad weather, temporarily ending a two-month standoff with Chinese ships.

The government said it will have to “re-evaluate” whether to redeploy ships to the disputed Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal after the pullout Saturday due to the typhoon.

“As soon as the weather improves, there will be a re-evaluation on what the deployment will be,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview Sunday.

She maintained, however, that the pullout was made not because of China’s request but to ensure the safety of Filipino personnel deployed in the disputed area, which was affected by thick monsoon rains caused by the typhoon. (AP/PNA/Sunnex)