MANILA, Oct. 18 -- Tropical Storm Ramil has intensified as it nears the waters of Northern Samar, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Saturday.

As of 10 a.m., Ramil was located over the coastal waters of Palapag, Northern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph, moving west-southwestward at 20 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 is hoisted over the northern portion of Aurora (Casiguran, Dilasag, and Dinalungan); Polillo Islands; Camarines Norte; Catanduanes; the northern portion of Camarines Sur (Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, San Jose, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan, and Presentacion); the extreme eastern portion of Albay (Rap...