Manila: Weather disturbance Maymay has weakened into a tropical depression, the weather bureau said in its 11 a.m. bulletin on Thursday. It packs maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center, and gustiness of up to 90 kilometers per hour (kph), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported. It was last located in the vicinity of Tanudan, Kalinga, moving southeastward slowly. There are no more areas under wind Signal No. 2.
According to Philippines News Agency, Signal No. 1 remains hoisted in the southern portion of Babuyan Islands (Calayan, Dalupiri, Fuga, Camiguin islands), Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, northwestern portion of Pangasinan (Bolinao, Anda, Bani), Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya and northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao). Strong winds will prevail in these areas. PAGASA said most of the country will continue experiencing strong to gale-force gusts due to the southwest monsoon and Maymay's periphery. Gale warning is still in effect over the western seaboard of Northern Luzon. PAGASA said Maymay is forecast to further weaken into a remnant low within the day.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Thursday said families affected by the combined effects of tropical depressions Luis and Maymay and the southwest monsoon (habagat) rose to 23,946, significantly higher than the 12,432 families reported Wednesday. In a message to reporters, OCD information officer Diego Mariano said the affected families are equivalent to 80,633 persons residing in Region 1 (Ilocos Region), Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), Region 3 (Central Luzon), Region 5 (Bicol Region), Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
A total of 39 evacuation centers are now active and are sheltering around 2,215 families, equivalent to 6,929 persons. Around 83 areas were reported flooded in Regions 1, 3, 9 and the BARMM. Mariano said OCD has not received reports on fatalities, injuries or missing persons that could be attributed to the effects of these prevailing weather systems. In a separate update Thursday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said a total of 396 passengers were reported stranded - Calabarzon, 40, and 356 individuals in Bicol Region. It placed infrastructure damage to nearly PHP510.93 million, all in CAR.
