MANILA -- Tropical storm "Basyang" accelerated as it threatens Eastern Mindanao, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Monday afternoon.
In its latest bulletin, PAGASA said "Basyang" was last spotted 435 kilometers east-southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
The storm, moving west-northwest at 22 kph, is expected to make landfall in the Caraga region on Tuesday morning or afternoon.
Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) No. 2 is raised over Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, and Agusan del Sur. PAGASA warned of 61-120 kph winds within the next 24 hours and storm surges reaching 4.1-14.0 meters at coastal areas.
TCWS No. 1, meanwhile, is also hoisted over the southern portion of Samar, southern portion of Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Siquijor, Guimaras, Iloilo, Dinagat Islands, Camiguin, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Bukidnon, and the northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur.
These areas are also expected to have a wave height of 1.25-4.0 meters.
"Basyang" is forecast to be in the vicinity of San Luis, Agusan del Sur on Tuesday afternoon and 145 km southeast of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on Wednesday afternoon. It is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday.
Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Caraga, northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, and the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, North Cotabato, Maguindanao, and Lanao del Sur will also experience scattered to widespread moderate to heavy rains. PAGASA cautioned of possible flooding and landslides in these areas.
The weather bureau also warned of risky travel over the seaboards of northern Luzon, eastern seaboards of central and southern Luzon, eastern Visayas, and other areas under signal due to the storm and the surge of the northeast monsoon. (PNA)
