DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 21 Dec) — ‘Vinta’ has intensified into a severe tropical storm and is expected to make landfall in Surigao del Sur by midnight, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its Severe Weather Bulletin number 9 issued at 11 p.m.
Storm signal number 2 has been raised over 15 Mindanao provinces — Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, the northern part of Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Camiguin, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Misamis Occidental, the eastern part of Zamboanga del Norte, and the eastern part of Zamboanga del Sur — and two Visayas provinces — Sigquijor and southern Negros Oriental.
Signal number 1 was raised over the rest of Davao Oriental, the rest of Zamboanga del Norte, the rest of Zamboanga del Sur, and five provinces in Mindanao – Dinagat, Davao del Sur, North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Zamboanga Sibugay.
Dinagat Island, Misamis Occidental, North Cotabato, Maguindanao, Davao del Sur, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay in Mindanao and in the Visayas, Southern Leyte, southern portion of Leyte, Southern Cebu, Bohol and Southern Negros Occidental
Mindanao has 27 provinces.
As of 10 p.m. Thursday, ‘Vinta’s’ center was estimated at 85 km east southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, packing maximum winds of up to 90 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 1205 kph, the weather bulletin said.
‘Vinta’ is forecast to move west at 20 kph, and will be at 65 km west northwest of Dipolog City, Zambonaga del Norte by Friday evening; 115 km south southwest of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan by Saturday evening; 120 km south southwest of Pagasa Island, Palawan by Sunday evening. (MindaNews)
