The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has announced the cancellation of 14 local commercial flights scheduled for Monday due to bad weather conditions caused by Tropical Storm Carina.
As of 12:45 p.m., four Philippine Airlines (PAL) Express flights to and from Basco and Tuguegarao in Manila have been canceled.
In addition, 10 local commercial flights from Cebu Pacific (CEB) and its sister airline CebGo in Manila to and from Tuguegarao, Naga, and San Jose have also been suspended.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) issued a separate advisory Monday, stating that at least four airports in the country were affected by the inclement weather, including those in San Jose, Naga, Tuguegarao, and Basco.
CAAP information officer Karen Villanda reported two canceled flights from Manila to Basco and a returned flight in Naga Airport.
Villanda also said at least 140 passengers were affected by the suspended flights in Naga, while over 900 others were affected by the cancellation of flights in Tuguegarao. In Basco Airport, 130 passengers were affected by canceled flights.
Tropical storm “Carina” (international name: Gaemi) meanwhile has intensified into a typhoon while meandering over the Philippine Sea.
In its 5 p.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Astmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the typhoon’s center was estimated at 420 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.
Packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph, Carina was moving north-northeastward slowly.
Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1 was raised over Batanes, the eastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gattaran, Baggao, Peñablanca, Lal-Lo, Gonzaga) including the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Camiguin Is., Babuyan Is.), and the northeastern portion of Isabela (Divilacan, Palanan, Maconacon).
The southwest monsoon enhanced by Carina will bring moderate to intense rainfall over various localities in the western portion of Luzon through Wednesday.
Over the Philippine Sea, Carina is forecast to move generally north-northwestward while gradually accelerating before turning northwestward for the remainder of the forecast period.
On the track forecast, Carina will remain far from the Philippine landmass and exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday evening or Thursday early morning.
