According to the latest storm news, Typhoon Kristine made landfall at 0:30 a.m. on October 24 and gradually slowed down as it moved northwest over Northern Luzon, Philippines.
The storm's circulation is so wide that it covers almost the entire East Sea, even overlapping the mainland of the Central Coast of Vietnam, although its center is still located in the east of Luzon Island (Philippines).
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that at 4:00 a.m. on October 24, the center of the intense tropical storm Tra Mi was at about 17.3 degrees north latitude, 121.8 degrees east longitude, in the Tumauini, Isabela area, east of Luzon island.
The strongest wind near the storm center is 95 km/h, gusting up to 160 km/h and the central pressure is 985 hPa.
The storm is moving west-northwest at 15 km/h. Hurricane-force winds extend up to 730 km from the center of the storm.
In the next 24 hours, rough seas with waves up to 8 meters high are expected along the coasts of Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Region and Zambales. Waves of 7 meters are expected along the west coast of Bataan. Waves of 6 meters are expected along the west coast of Batangas; coast of Lubang Island.
According to the Vietnam National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, at 1:00 a.m. on October 25, the center of storm Tra Mi was at about 17 degrees north latitude, 118.9 degrees east longitude, in the eastern sea area of the northern East Sea, with a level 9 intensity and gusts of level 11. The storm moved westward at about 15 km/h and entered the East Sea.
At least 14 people have died in the Philippines as Typhoon Tra Mi flooded villages, swollen rivers and forced tens of thousands to flee their homes as it neared the eastern coast, Reuters reported. Tra Mi evoked memories of Typhoon Yagi, which devastated the Philippines earlier in September.
On October 23, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed the response to Typhoon Tra Mi, which made landfall in Isabela province. "I'm afraid the worst is yet to come. Let's prepare. The amount of water is unprecedented. We should monitor it closely," President Marcos said during a meeting on typhoon response.
Typhoon Tra Mi dumped heavy rains on the central Bicol region on October 22, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes as floodwaters rose to the roofs of their wooden homes. Rivers overflowed and caused flash floods, a disaster official said.
At least 12 people were killed in the city of Naga, police chief Erwin Rebellon said.
