Kiyapo intensifies, makes landfall in Cagayan

Tropical Storm Kiyapo intensified as it bore down on extreme Northern Luzon on Friday, July 24, prompting the widespread hoisting of storm signals and warnings of potentially dangerous rain and wind across the region. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration reported the storm made landfall on Camiguin Island in Calayan, Cagayan, and was continuing its west-northwestward track toward the Batanes and Babuyan Islands.

As of its 5 p.m. bulletin, Pagasa said the storm packed maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour near the center, with gusts of up to 105 kph. It was moving at a speed of 30 kph. Signal No. 2, indicating gale-force winds of 62 to 88 kph, was raised over Batanes, the northern portions of Cagayan and Apayao, the northern portion of Ilocos Norte, and the Babuyan Islands. A larger area, including the rest of mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and parts of Aurora, was under Signal No. 1, warning of strong winds.

Forecasters warned Kiyapo was expected to further intensify as it traversed Extreme Northern Luzon. The storm may strengthen...