DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 13 February) — Tropical storm ‘Basyang’ (Sanba) has weakened into a tropical depression upon landfall in Cortes, Surigao del Sur, the state weather bureau said in its latest advisory.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in its Severe Weather Bulletin No. 13 issued at 11 a.m. Tuesday, said Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal 2 has been lifted over Mindanao’s Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, and northern section of Bukidnon but these areas are still under Signal 1, along with Lanao del Norte, northern section of Lanao del Sur, Misamis Occidental, and northern section of Zamboanga del Norte.
Residents in these areas, however, are urged to continue monitoring and taking appropriate measures against possible flooding and landslides. Scattered to widespread moderate to heavy rains will prevail in the next 24 hours over Palawan, Visayas, Caraga, Northern Mindanao and Zamboanga Peninsula” while scattered light to moderate with at times heavy rains are expected over Bicol Region and the rest of MIMAROPA and Mindanao, the advisory said.
PAGASA said that as of 10 a.m. Tuesday, center of tropical depression ‘Basyang’ was estimated in the vicinity of Cantilan, Surigao del, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 75 kph and was forecast to move west northwest at 25 kph.
Signal 1 remains over Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Bohol, Cebu, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, southern section of Samar, and southern section of Eastern Samar in the Visayas and Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo groups of islands in Luzon.
‘Basyang’ is estimated at 185 km south of Cuyo, Palawan by Wednesday mornign; 235 km west of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan by Thursday morning; 125 km west northwest of Pagasa Island, Palawan, outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Friday morning. (MindaNews)
