At least 28 areas were placed under storm warning Signal No. 1 as tropical depression “Samuel” is about to make landfall over Samar-Leyte-Dinagat areas around Tuesday evening.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather specialist Benny Estareja said Samuel was at 335 kilometers (km) east of Maasin City, Southern Leyte around Tuesday noon and will likely make landfall over Samar, Leyte or Dinagat Islands on Tuesday evening.
Samuel has maintained its maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 65 kph, and continued to move west-northwest at 20 kph.
More areas were placed under Signal No. 1 as the cyclone started to bring moderate to heavy rains over Eastern Visayas, Bicol Region, Southern Luzon, and Mindanao.
Signal No. 1 was hoisted over Masbate including Ticao Island, Romblon, southern portions of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, northern Palawan including Cuyo Island and Calamian Islands, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Guimaras, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Antique, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Misamis Oriental, and Camiguin.
Estareja warned residents in these areas, especially in Sorsogon, Masbate, Romblon, Dinagat Islands, Siargao, and the whole Visayas, of possible flooding or landslides due to moderate to heavy rains.
He said Samuel could maintain its strength and remain a tropical depression within the next 24 hours.
“The winds may likely be weaker than what we are expecting but Samuel will still bring moderate to heavy rains that can inundate or trigger landslides over low-lying or mountainous areas,” he pointed out.
Estareja also advised fisherfolk not to set sail along the coastlines of areas under Signal No. 1 and into the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon due to rough to very rough seas that will be dangerous for small sea crafts.
By Wednesday morning, PAGASA expects Samuel to be in the vicinity of San Remigio, Antique, and by Thursday morning at 265 km west-northwest of Puerto Princesa City.
Estareja said Samuel is forecast to move outside the coutry’s area of responsibility by Thursday evening. (Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz)
