Mirasol to intensify into tropical storm

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

September 18, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines —  Tropical Depression Mirasol continued its northwestward track yesterday afternoon, crossing Apayao province while bringing rains and gusty winds to Northern Luzon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported.

Mirasol is expected to maintain strength while crossing Northern Luzon and to re-emerge over Ilocos Norte’s coastal waters. It may intensify into a tropical storm over the Luzon Strait, possibly reaching a severe tropical storm category, before exiting the Philippine area of responsibility this morning.

As of 4 p.m., the center of Mirasol was located in the vicinity of Kabugao, Apayao, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center, gustiness of up to 90 kph and a central pressure of 1002 hPa. The cyclone was moving northwest at 20 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remains hoisted over Batanes, Cagayan (including the Babuyan Islands), Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and parts of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet and La Union.

PAGASA said areas under Signal No. 1 may experience strong winds of 39 to 61 kph within 36 hours, posing minimal to minor threats to life and property.

Cagayan, on the other hand, could receive 100 to 200 mm of rain until Wednesday afternoon, while Isabela, Kalinga, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra and Benguet may get 50 to 100 mm.

Rainfall may be higher in mountainous areas, increasing the risk of floods and landslides, especially in rain-soaked communities.

Moderate to rough seas with waves up to three meters are expected over the eastern seaboard of Cagayan and Isabela and the seaboards of the Babuyan Islands, Batanes, Aurora, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. PAGASA advised small vessels to avoid sailing in these waters.

Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon will bring strong to gale-force winds and scattered rains over Southern Luzon, Metro Manila, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas and parts of Northern Luzon in the coming days.

PAGASA urged residents and local disaster units to remain vigilant and follow evacuation advisories in flood- and landslide-prone areas.

Aid, relief ready

President Marcos has directed the immediate delivery of relief goods and assistance to communities in the path of Tropical Depression Mirasol, Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro reported that more than 2.57 million food packs and other supplies have been prepositioned in strategic areas to ensure quick distribution.

She said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is working closely with local government units (LGUs) to expedite relief efforts.

Over 100,000 ready-to-eat food boxes are prepared for stranded individuals, while 300,000 non-food items, including blankets, hygiene kits and modular tents, are on standby for families in evacuation centers.

“We will act fast on LGU augmentation requests to make sure resources are enough and timely,” DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said, echoing Marcos’ call to prevent hunger among disaster-hit families.

DILG, PNP mobilize

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), for its part, ordered LGUs and police units to mobilize resources for disaster response.

Regional directors were instructed to coordinate with LGUs in flood- and landslide-prone areas.

“All concerned local chief executives down to the barangay levels are directed to undertake all the necessary critical preparedness actions and cause the widest dissemination of this advisory within your respective areas of responsibility,” the DILG said.

Acting Philippine National Police chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., meanwhile, assured the public that the police force is ready to conduct preemptive evacuations and search-and-rescue operations.

“I have already directed our police commanders in the affected areas to coordinate with their respective local government units and disaster response agencies for a unified effort to ensure public safety,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Several Pangasinan towns suspended classes yesterday due to heavy rains from Mirasol.

Classes in all levels were canceled in Santa Maria, Rosales, San Jacinto and Umingan, while San Quintin suspended classes from kindergarten to senior high school. - Helen Flores, Jose Rodel Clapano, Emmanuel Tupas, Cesar Ramirez