‘Betty’ forces evacuation, Signal No. 1 up in NLuzon

(UPDATE) A PRE-EMPTIVE evacuation of residents in areas on the path of Super Typhoon “Betty” (international name: “Mawar”) began on Saturday, the government said, as a slightly weaker but faster and still destructive storm entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) earlier in the day.

In its 5 p.m. forecast, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Signal No. 1 has been raised in most provinces in Northern Luzon.

These are in Batanes, Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, the northern and central portions of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Lagayan, San Juan, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay, Malibcong, Danglas, La Paz, Dolores, Tayum, Bucay, Sallapadan, Daguioman, Bucloc, Boliney), Kalinga, the eastern and central portions of Mountain Province (Sadanga, Barlig, Natonin, Paracelis, Bontoc), the eastern and central portions of Ifugao (Mayoyao, Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista, Banaue, Hingyon, Lagawe, Lamut, Kiangan, Asipulo), the northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao), Quirino, and the northeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Quezon, Solano, Bagabag, Diadi, Villaverde, Bayombong, Ambaguio).

Pagasa said Betty has slightly weakened but will remain under the super typhoon category. Its maximum sustained winds have decreased to 185 kilometers per hour (kph) from 195 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph from 240 kph, as of 3 p.m.

The e