‘Karen' intensifies further

MANILA -- Typhoon "Karen" (international codename: Sanba) intensified further Thursday night while moving over the East Philippine Sea, said the state weather bureau.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (Pagasa) 11 p.m. Thursday bulletin, Karen was located at 680 kilometers (km) east of Casiguran, Aurora.

Karen is moving north northwest at 15 kilometers per hour (kph) with maximum sustained winds of 165 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 200 kph.

Weathermen forecast Karen to be at 610 km east of Calayan, Cagayan Friday evening.

Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out over the eastern seaboard of the country due to strong winds generated by Karen.

Meanwhile, the low pressure area (LPA) spotted west of the country was estimated at 580 kilometers west of Iba, Zambales, Pagasa said.

The weather bureau said the LPA is still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility and has 50 percent chance to develop into a tropical storm.

Once the LPA develops into a tropical depression, it will be named "Lawin," the 12th tropical cyclone to enter the country this year.

Pagasa said the LPA is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring light to moderate rains over Metro Manila and occasional moderate to heavy rains over the regions of Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Western Visayas.

Residents in areas heavily affected by the LPA and Typhoon Karen are alerted against possible landslides and flashfloods. (Sunnex)