As it plowed through the central Philippine islands, Typhoon “Nina” weakened further on Monday after hitting land for the fifth time in roughly 15 hours.
The storm’s latest landfall was on Verde Island, a tourist spot off Batangas province. It packed maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) with 215-kph gusts as of 9:15 a.m., ABS-CBN News quoted state weather bureau PAGASA as saying.
The typhoon is expected to further weaken as it heads towards Mindoro province, PAGASA meteorologist Benison Estraja reportedly told radio DZMM.
Nina will dump occasionally heavy rains in Calabarzon, Metro Manila, Marinduque and parts of Central Luzon, he was quoted as saying.
On Christmas Day, Nina dumped heavy rains and cut power after it made landfall in Catanduanes province then made its way to Camarines Sur, Quezon and Marinduque.
Thousands were evacuated while land, sea and air transport were also suspended as authorities told the public to prepare for Nina’s onslaught. There were no immediate reports of casualties, said the news portal.
