MANILA, Oct. 17 -- Tropical Depression Ramil maintained its strength and might intensify into a tropical storm as it moves west southwestward at 25 kilometers per hour over the Philippine Sea, the weather bureau said on Friday.

In its 5 p.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Ramil was located 640 kilometers east of Juban, Sorsogon, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.

More areas in Luzon have been placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1.

These are the southeastern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue), eastern and southern portions of Quirino (Maddela, Nagtipunan), southeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfons...