Philippines: Kristine strengthens to tropical storm

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.