MANILA (2nd UPDATE) - Ursula has weakened into a severe tropical storm and is no longer directly affecting the country, the state weather bureau said Saturday morning.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Ursula was last seen 520 kilometers west of Subic, Zambales while packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and 90 kph gusts as it slowly moves west southwest.

The weather disturbance is projected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) Saturday morning.

However, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, and Aurora will still experience light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms.

The weather agency added that sea travel is risky, especially for small seacraft, over the seaboards of northern Luzon due to rough seas.

More than 20 people were killed due to Ursula's onslaught in the country, particularly in eastern and western Visayas, ruining Christmas for over 185,000 affected persons.

• Christmas typhoon Ursula kills at least 21