by Sarwell Meniano/PNA
TACLOBAN CITY — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued on Monday a flood warning over Eastern Visayas provinces as Tropical Depression Amang threatens to dump heavy rains.
In its flood advisory, the weather bureau identified several rivers in six provinces that would likely be affected by the heavy downpour.
These water courses are in Sangputan, Palo, Solano, Daguitan, Marabong, Cadacan, Bongquirogon, Salug, Pagbanagaran, Pagsangahan, and Binahaan in Leyte; and Catarman, Bugko, Pambujan, Catubig, Palapag, Mano, and Gamay in Northern Samar.
Other affected rivers are Oras, Dolores, Ulot, Taft, Borongan, Suribao, Llorento, Balangiga, and Sulat in Eastern Samar; Basey, Silaga, Calbiga and Jibatan in Samar; and Bisay, Himbangan, and Pandan in Southern Leyte; and all river systems in Biliran province.
People living in low-lying areas near these river systems are advised to be on alert for possible flash floods. Those settled near mountain slopes are told to watch out for signs of landslides.
In the region, Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1 was hoisted since the weekend over Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, and Samar provinces.
Also placed under Signal No. 1 are eastern Bohol, northern Cebu, Surigao del Norte, and Dinagat Islands.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government has identified 2,433 villages in the region as highly susceptible to flooding. The agency urged local governments to conduct appropriate preparedness and disaster risk reduction measures as needed.
As of Monday morning, the center of “Amang” was estimated at 70 km. east northeast of Maasin City, Southern Leyte with maximum sustained winds of 45 km. per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 60 kph. It is moving west northwest at 10 kph.
