Tropical Depression has accelerated further while it moved closer toward Eastern Samar, state weather bureau PAGASA reported Thursday morning, December 14.
In its 8 a.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA said the center of Tropical Depression Urduja is already at 140 kilometers East of Guiuan Eastern Samar packing a maximum sustained wind of 55 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 65 kilometers per hour.
Urduja continue to move west faster at 10 kilometers per hour and expected to make landfall in Eastern Samar between Thursday night and Friday morning, December 15.
Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal Number 1 is raised in the following areas:
- Catanduanes
- Camarines Sur
- Albay
- Sorsogon
- Masbate
- Romblon
- Eastern Samar
- Northern Samar
- Samar
- Biliran
- Leyte
- Southern Leyte
- Northern Cebu including Bantayan Island,
- Capiz
- Aklan
- Northern Iloilo
PAGASA warned that the amount of rainfall remains to be moderate to heavy within the 400-kilometer diameter of Tropical Depression Urduja.
The state weather bureau added that scattered to widespread rains is expected in the Visayas and the regions of Bicol, Caraga and Northern Mindanao within 24 hours. Residents in the said areas are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.
Fisherfolks and those with small seacrafts are advised not to venture out over the eastern seaboard of Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas due to moderate to rough seas.
PAGASA also advises the public and disaster risk reduction and management councils concerned to take appropriate actions and watch for the next next severe weather bulletin to be issued at 11 a.m. on Thursday. —R4A/DOST-PAGASA
