MANILA, Philippines — (UPDATE 2 – 2:45 p.m.) Tropical depression “Urduja” slightly intensified but slowed down late Thursday morning, December 14, as it approached Eastern Samar, where it is expected to make landfall Friday morning, as storm warning signals were raised in more areas of the Visayas.
Tropical cyclone warning Signal No. 1, meaning winds of 30-60 kilometers per hour are expected in 36 hours, is up over the Bicol provinces of Catanduanes, Camarines Sur,Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate and Romblon; Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, and Southern Leyte in Eastern Visayas; northern Cebu including Bantayan Island in Central Visayas; and Capiz, Aklan and northern Iloilo in Western Visayas.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration last tracked Urduja 120 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar packing maximum sustained winds of 60 kph near the center with gusts of up to 80 kph as it moved west at 7 kph.
Classes at all levels were suspended in the following places Thursday:
ALL LEVELS
- Naga
- Camarines Sur
PRE-SCHOOL TO ELEMENTARY
- Albay
- Ormoc, Leyte
PRE-SCHOOL TO KINDERGARTEN
- Catanduanes
- Sorsogon
- Masbate
- Eastern Samar
- Northern Samar
- Samar
- Biliran
- Leyte
- Southern Leyte
- Romblon
- Northern Cebu
- Capiz
- Aklan
- Northern Iloilo
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said scattered to widespread rains are expected over the Visayas, and the Bicol, Caraga and Northern Mindanao regions within 24 hours.
It warned residents in these areas of possible flashfloods and landslides from the moderate to heavy rains within Urduja’s 400-km diameter.
Pagasa warned fisherfolk and small sea craft from heading out to sea over the eastern seaboards of Bicol and Eastern Visayas where the seas are expected to be moderate to rough.
Early Thursday afternoon, Police Regional Office 8 reported floods in 14 villages in Eastern Samar, 10 of these in Guiuan alone.
Landslides were also reported in Barangay Paya, Giporlos town and in Barangay Libas, San Julian. Roads and bridges were also not passable in Giporlos and San Julian.
PRO 8 also said a total of 1,236 persons, 18 buses, 123 trucks and 30 light vehicles were stranded in ports in Northern Samar and Southern Leyte.
Here is Pagasa’s forecast track for Urduja over the next few days:
- 24 Hour(Tomorrow morning): In the vicinity of Quinapondan, Eastern Samar(11.2°N, 125.5°E)
- 48 Hour(Saturday morning):In the vicinity of Dimasalang, Masbate(12.2°N, 123.9°E)
- 72 Hour(Sunday morning): 225 km Northeast of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan(11.4°N, 119.9°E)
- 96 Hour(Monday morning):155 km Northwest of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan(10.7°N, 117.7°E)