By Xinhua,
Manila : Most parts of northern Philippines have been placed under tropical storm alert as tropical storm “Cosme” is gaining strength and will make a landfall in Ilocos in northern Luzon Saturday, said the Philippine Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration on Friday.
“Cosme is seen to make a landfall in northern part of Luzon, particularly in Ilocos area on Saturday and Cagayan on Saturday,” Nathaniel Cruz, weather branch chief at the administration said.
Cruz said “Cosme” was last spotted 240 kilometers west southwest of Iba, Zambales with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph). It is moving northeastward at nine kph.
He said another storm, “Dindo”, left the Philippine area of responsibility on Friday heading to Japan.
He also said that “Cosme” will be about 590 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes in the northernmost Philippines by Monday.