Tropical Depression Kristine has intensified into a tropical storm on Tuesday, while authorities said it may strengthen further before making landfall in the Philippines.
The state weather agency said Kristine may reach the severe tropical storm category by Wednesday and make landfall over Isabela on Wednesday evening.
It also said it may further develop into a typhoon by Friday as it emerges over the West Philippine Sea.
The center of Tropical Storm Kristine was last located 390 km east of Virac, Catanduanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gusts of up to 80 kph. It was moving westward at 15 kph.
The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Bicol placed its emergency operations center on red alert to immediately respond to calls for help.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) said Samar Island’s Calbayog Airport in Calbayog City and Catarman Airport in Northern Samar grounded all scheduled flights amid potential risks due to the weather disturbance.
Several areas of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao have been put under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1.
Shooting at Australia's Bondi Beach kills 12
Police hold person of interest after Brown University shooting leaves two dead
Hamas says Israel's killing of senior commander threatens ceasefire
Ukraine's Zelenskyy ditches NATO ambition ahead of peace talks
Thailand declares curfew along coast as Cambodia border fighting spreads
