'Ester' picks up speed, moves toward Japan

Tropical depression "Ester" picked up speed as it continues moving toward Japan's southern islands, state weather forecasters said as of 10:30 a.m. Sunday. In its latest bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Ester was last spotted at 340 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center. Currently moving north-northeast at 17 kilometers per hour, Ester is expected to be 680 kilometers north-northeast of Basco, Batanes or at 90 kilometers southwest of Okinawa, Japan. Storm Warning Signal No. 1 is raised over the Batanes group of islands, Babuyan Island and the Calayan Islands. — Sophia M. Dedace/LBG,GMANews.TV