Now a storm, Henry moves towards south Japan

After intensifying into a tropical storm late Friday, cyclone “Henry" (Malou) continued to move towards Southern Japan Saturday. State weather forecasters said Henry will likely exit Philippine territory within the day, barring any sudden change in its course. “Makakalabas na ito ngayong araw na ito, nasa boundary na ito. Papuntang Okinawa, Japan (It will likely exit Philippine territory Saturday. It is already at the boundary and heading for Okinawa in Japan)," Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecaster Jun Galang said in an interview on dzBB radio. While the PAGASA said Henry is too far to have direct effect on any part of the country, the National Disaster Coordinating Council said the cyclone’s rains had forced the closure of some roads in Northern Luzon. In its 11 p.m. Friday report, the NDCC said the Itogon-Dalupirip Road; Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya (Guesset, Itogon; Ambuklao, Bokod; and Gurel-Bokod-Kabayan-Buguias Roads) are in a "close-open" situation. The Mt. Province Boundary-Calanan Road (Tinglayan section) in Kalinga and the Baguio-Bontoc Road (Gonogon section) and Mt. Province-Ilocos Sur Road via Kayan-Bulaga section were closed, it added. On the other hand, NDCC said a 10-wheeler truck with two crew fell into the spillway at San Rafael village in Montalban town in Rizal at 1:30 a.m. Friday. NDCC said the incident occurred at the height of heavy rains. The driver was rescued and no casualty was reported. Meanwhile, Galang also said there is no potential cyclone near the Philippine area of responsibility at this time. “Sa ngayon wala pa kaming namo-monitor," he said. PAGASA’s 5 a.m. bulletin indicated Henry was estimated at 690 km east-northeast of Basco, Batanes as of 4 a.m., with maximum winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph. It said Henry is forecast to move west-northwest at 15 kph, and be 650 km northeast of Basco, Batanes or 130 km southwest of Okinawa, Japan by Saturday evening. — LBG, GMANews.TV