Storm signals still up even as 'Pablo' weakens

(UPDATED 1:22 p.m.) Several areas in Visayas and Mindanao remain under high public storm warning signals even as typhoon "Pablo" weakened following landfall.

The typhoon has also claimed its first two casualties as it continues to batter affected areas, forcing thousands to flee their homes and leaving passengers stranded.

"Typhoon 'Pablo' has slightly weakened after making a landfall and is now traversing the province of Bukidnon," state weather bureau Pagasa said in its 11 a.m. update

Pablo now has maximum sustained winds of 160 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 195 kph, Pagasa said.

This is lower than sustained winds of 175 kph and gustiness of 210 kph prior to landfall.

"At 12 P.M. 4/DEC/2012, the eye of Typhoon #PabloPH was located in the vicinity of Cagayan De Oro City," Pagasa said via Twitter.

Public storm warning signal number 3 has been hoisted over the following areas, where the weather bureau warned of 101-185 kph winds in at least 18 hours:
-Bohol
-Siquijor
-Southern Cebu
-Southern Negros Oriental
-Southern Negros Occidental
-Misamis Oriental
-Bukidnon
-Lanao del Sur
-Lanao del Norte
-Misamis Occidental
-Zamboanga del Norte
-Camiguin 

The following areas, meanwhile, have been placed under signal number 2 (61-100 kph winds):
-Northern Palawan
-Calamian Grp. Of Islands
-Cuyo Islands
-Southern Leyte
-Antique
-Iloilo
-Rest of Cebu
-Camotes Island
-Rest of Negros Oriental
-Rest of Negros Occidental
-Guimaras
-Surigao del Norte
-Siargao
-Surigao del Sur
-Dinagat Province
-Agusan del Norte
-Agusan del Sur
-Davao del Norte
-Samal Island
-Compostela Valley
-Davao Oriental
-North Cotabato
-Zamboanga del Sur
-Zamboanga Sibugay
-Maguindanao

Signal number 1 (30-60 kph winds) is meanwhile up in:
-Aklan
-Capiz
-Leyte
-Biliran
-Davao del Sur
-Sultan Kudarat
-Basilan
-Sarangani
-South Cotabato

"Residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signals are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides," Pagasa said.

Those living in coastal areas under public storm  warning signal numbers 3 and 2 have also been alerted against big waves or storm surges, particularly in Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat, Bohol and Leyte provinces where waves may reach three to six meters in height.Pablo has meanwhile claimed its first casualties as it continues to batter several areas in Visayas and Mindanao, even as it slightly weakened after landfall.

Two have been confirmed dead while two were wounded during the typhoon's onslaught in Davao Oriental, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Benito Ramos said in a broadcast press briefing.

Erlinda Bolante, 60, was reportedly killed by a tree trunk that fell amid strong winds and rain, while Rosel Anong, 22, slipped from a stairway and hit her head.

More than 40,000 Filipinos have flown to shelters as the typhoon battered Mindanao, the NDRRMC said.

The typhoon has also left more than 3,400 passengers stranded in ports all over the country while a total of 80 flights have so far been cancelled, NDRRMC addedPablo has been forecast to move west at 20 kph. It is expected to be at 140 kilometers southwest of Iloilo City Wednesday morning, Pagasa said.

The typhoon is seen to be at 230 kilometers west of Coron, Palawan, Thursday morning and 500 kilometers west of Iba, Zambales by Friday morning.

article from http://ph.news.yahoo.com/alert-heightened-as--pablo--makes-landfall-020057082.html