MANILA -- Tropical Storm "Basyang" has further intensified as it moves toward Isabela-Aurora area Tuesday, weather forecasters said.
Bernie de Leon of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that as of 4 a.m. Tuesday, Basyang was spotted at 190 kilometers east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes.
It has gained strength from 75 kilometers per hour (kph) on Monday night to 115 kph Tuesday near the center and gustiness of up to 145 kph. Basyang is moving west at 22 kph.
With this, Pagasa hoisted storm signal number 2 over the provinces of Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Polillo Island, Aurora, Quirino, and Isabela.
Under signal number 1 were the provinces of Camarines Sur, Albay, Quezon, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Benguet, Mt. Province, Pangasinan, La Union, Abra, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga, and Cagayan.
Basyang is expected to make landfall over northern Aurora early Wednesday morning. It will be 245 kilometers west northwest of Laoag City on Thursday morning, and 245 kilometers west northwest of Laoag City on Friday.
Pagasa warned residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under signals numbers 1 and 2 against possible flashfloods and landslides.
The public and disaster coordinating councils concerned were also advised to take appropriate actions. (Sunnex)