MANILA, Philippines — Heavy monsoon rains persist over Metro Manila and several parts of Luzon Saturday, raising the risk of flooding and landslides, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration Pagasa) said.
Pagasa is also monitoring a tropical depression outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
Orange heavy rainfall warning was raised over parts of Bataan, while yellow warning covered portions of Bataan, Zambales, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas and Rizal, according to Weather Specialist Veronica C. Torres.
Occidental Mindoro could receive 100 to 200 millimeters of rain, while 50 to 100 mm was possible over Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro and Antique.
Torres said the rainfall could cause flooding in urbanized and low-lying areas and communities near rivers, while landslides were possible in susceptible areas.
Meanwhile, Pagasa continued to monitor a tropical depression which, as of 3 a.m., was 1,685 kilometers east-northeast of extreme Northern Luzon, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 70 kph. It was moving northward at 35 kph.
Torres said that the system's current track lowered the chances of its entry into the PAR.
It could, however, re-enter Pagasa's monitoring area within Saturday and possibly enter the PAR on Sunday.
For Sunday, 50 to 100 mm of rain was forecast over Occidental Mindoro, Batangas, Cavite, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac and Pampanga.
No gale warning was in effect over Philippine coastal waters as of the 5 a.m. briefing.
