By Brian Jules Campued
More areas across the country have been placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 as Tropical Depression (TD) Aghon maintained its strength while approaching Eastern Visayas, the state weather bureau said Friday.
In its tropical cyclone bulletin issued at 11 a.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said TD Aghon was spotted 240 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur moving west-northwest at 10 kilometers per hour.
Aghon packs maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near its center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.
PAGASA said strong winds of up to 61 kph may be expected in at least 36 hours and may cause minimal to minor threat to life and property.
Due to this, TCWS no. 1 was hoisted over the following areas:
Signal No. 1
- Luzon
- Sorsogon
- Albay (Manito, Legazpi City, City of Tabaco, Rapu-Rapu, Santo Domingo, Malilipot, Bacacay, Malinao, and Tiwi)
- Catanduanes
- Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Garchitorena, Presentacion, Sagñay, San Jose, Lagonoy, and Tigaon)
- Visayas
- Eastern Samar
- Samar
- Northern Samar
- Leyte (Babatngon, Tacloban City, Palo, Tanauan, Tolosa, Dulag, Mayorga, Macarthur, Abuyog, and Javier)
- Southern Leyte (Silago, Hinunangan, Hinundayan, Anahawan, San Juan, Liloan, Saint Bernard, San Ricardo, Pintuyan, and San Francisco)
- Mindanao
- Dinagat Islands
- Surigao del Norte, including Siargao – Bucas Grande Group
- Surigao del Sur (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza, Cortes, and City of Tandag)
According to a track forecast, PAGASA said Aghon may intensify into a tropical storm by Saturday morning (May 25) and is expected to closely approach or make landfall over Eastern Visayas.
“Possible po by tomorrow ay maging isang tropical storm na po ito… Posibleng lumakas pa ito by Sunday and Monday at maging isang severe tropical storm,” PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said.
“Pagsapit naman ng Lunes o Martes ay kikilos na ito unti-unting papalayo ng ating bansa at lumabas ng Philippine Area of Responsibility as a typhoon sa Martes,” he added.
Estareja also said that a “slightly earlier landfall” may occur over Eastern Visayas and a direct passage over Bicol Region is currently not ruled out, considering the track forecast and Aghon’s probability cone.
The state weather bureau, likewise, warned of moderate to heavy rains occurring in Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Surigao del Norte, and Dinagat Islands until Saturday noon.
Light to moderate with at times heavy rains are expected over Surigao del Sur, the rest of Eastern Visayas, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate (including Ticao and Burias Islands), Catanduanes, and the eastern portion of Camarines Sur.
PAGASA also advised mariners of motor bancas and similarly-sized vessels to take precautionary measures as the tropical depression may cause moderate to rough seas along the northern and eastern seaboards of Eastern Visayas as well as the eastern seaboard of Caraga Region.
“Considering these developments, the public and disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned are advised to take all necessary measures to protect life and property,” PAGASA said in an advisory.
“Persons living in areas identified to be highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards are advised to follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials,” it added. – iro