PNP on alert as Tropical Storm Kiyapo threatens Northern Luzon

Philippine National Police chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. — Photo from Office of the Chief PNP/Facebook Article continues after this advertisement MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has placed its units in Northern Luzon on heightened alert as Tropical Storm Kiyapo (international name: Noul) threatens to affect parts of the region. PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said Friday that police units along the storm’s projected path have been instructed to preposition search-and-rescue assets and coordinate closely with local disaster risk reduction and management councils to ensure a swift emergency response. “All our police units in areas along Kiyapo’s projected path are ready,” Nartatez said in a statement. READ: Wind signals raised over parts of N. Luzon due to Kiyapo As of 4 a.m. Friday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) located Kiyapo about 345 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan. Article continues after this advertisement The storm was moving west-northwest at 30 kilometers per hour (kph), packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gusts of up to 80 kph. The state weather bureau also said Kiyapo was likely to either closely approach or make landfall over Babuyan Islands; and enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat over the western sections of Northern Luzon and Southern Luzon. Article continues after this advertisement Nartatez appealed to the public ro remain vigilant, monitor weather updates closely, and cooperate fully with local authorities should preemptive evacuations become necessary. /dp Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.