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'Basyang' slows, threatens Caraga

By Juzel Danganan

February 12, 2018, 12:27 pm

MANILA -- Tropical storm 'Basyang' slowed down as it poses threat to areas in the Caraga region, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Monday.

In its latest bulletin, PAGASA said 'Basyang' was last spotted 620 km east southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 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.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) No. 2 is raised over Surigao del Sur which means winds of 61-120 kph are expected 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, Siquijor, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Camiguin, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Bukidnon, northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte.

These areas are also estimated to have a wave height of 1.25-4.0 meters.

'Basyang' is forecast to be at 55 km east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur on Tuesday morning and at 160 km west southwest of Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on Wednesday morning. It is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday.

Eastern Visayas, central Visayas, Caraga, northern Mindanao, Davao region and Zamboanga Peninsula 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)

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