(Image taken from PAGASA website)
MANILA – Tropical Storm Dante (international name Choi-Wan) continues to move over waters bordering the country's eastern seaboard, raising the risk for flooding and rain-induced landslides even in the Visayas and Luzon's Region 5 (Bicol).
Outer rain bands of "Dante" may bring rain that can trigger such dangerous events in those areas, noted Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) hydrologist Rosalie Pagulayan.
"The threat of flooding and landslides is present there so communities concerned must be prepared," she said.
PAGASA located "Dante" at 270 kilometers east of Maasin City in Southern Leyte province of Region 8 (Eastern Visayas) at 11 a.m. Tuesday (June 1), moving west-northwestwards at 20 kilometers per hour (kph) while packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near its center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.
Pagulayan cited Eastern Visayas along the eastern seaboard as particularly at risk for flooding and rain-induced landslides.
Eastern Visayas' soil is increasingly becoming wet as this region experienced light rain in previous days and moderate to heavy rainfall this Tuesday, she noted.
She isn't discounting the possibility such soil condition may eventually cause "Dante" rain to merely run off instead of being absorbed by the ground, raising waterways' water level and flooding low-lying areas.
Wet slopes are more prone to landslides, she added.
According to PAGASA, rain showers brought by the tropical cyclone may raise water level and even cause overflows in Eastern Visayas' major waterways and respective tributaries.
Those major waterways are Northern Samar province's Catarman, Bugko, Pambujan, Catubig, Palapag, Mawo and Gamay; Leyte province's Sangputan, Palo, Solano (Quilot), Daguitan Marabang, Cadac-an, Bongquirogon, Salug, Pagbangahan, Pagsangahan and Binahaan; Eastern Samar province's Oras, Dolores, Ulot, Taft, Borongan, Suribao, Llorente, Balangiga and Sulat; Southern Leyte province's Bisay, Himbangan and Pandan; Samar province's Basey, Silanga, Calbiga and Jibatan as well as all rivers and tributaries in Biliran province.
PAGASA also warned about possible flooding and landslides in Bicol -- another region along the eastern seaboard -- and in the Visayas' Regions 6 (Western Visayas) and 7 (Central Visayas).
"That warning is in anticipation of more intense rain that "Dante" may bring to such regions," said Pagulayan.
She noted the regions have been experiencing light rain in previous days.
According to PAGASA, it may also affect major waterways in Bicol, Western Visayas and Central Visayas.
The Bicol waterways are Camarines Sur province's Lower Kilbay Catabangan, Ragay, Tinalmud, Tambang and Lagonoy; Catanduanes province's Cabuyan, Bato and Pajo; Camarines Norte province's Labo and Daet Basud; Masbate province's Lanang, Mapayawan, Mandaon, Asid, Malbug, Guiom, Nainday, Daraga, Nauco (Aguada) and Baleno; Albay province's Guinale and Upper Donsol as well as Sorsogon province's Lower Donsol, Ogod, Putiao, Cadacan, Banuang-Daan, Fabrica (Tugbugan) and Matnog.
The waterways in Western Visayas are Capiz province's Panay, Mambusao, Panay Malinao, Alingon and Balantian; Antique province's Sibalom, Ipayo, Cagaranan, Palawan, Cairauan, Dalanas and Tibiao; Negros Occidental province's Malogo, Sicaba, Grande, Himogaan, Danao, Upper Tabanan, Sipalay and Lower Ilog; Iloilo province's Pinantan, Barotac, Akalaygan, Jalaud, Jalano, Jagdong, Jalaur, Lamunan, Jaro-Aganan, Sibalom and Guimbal; Aklan province's Ibajay, Aklan and Jalo as well as all rivers and tributaries in Guimaras province.
In Central Visayas, the waterways are Negros Oriental province's La Libertad, Tanjay, Candugay, Siaton, Cawitan, Sipocong, Bayawan, Pagatban and Lower Tabanan;
Cebu province's Kotkot, Mananga, Guinabasan, Balamban and Sabangdaku; Bohol province's Inabanga, Ipil, Matulid, Loboc and Abatan as well as all rivers and tributaries in Siquijor province.
Pagulayan urged people in such regions to monitor even tributaries of major waterways there.
"Dante" rain can also raise water level in those tributaries and even cause water there to overflow, spill into and flood nearby areas, she noted.
"Water level of small, narrow tributaries in steep slopes can easily rise then rush downstream -- causing flooding there," she said further.
Earlier, PAGASA warned about "Dante" raising flooding and landslide risk in Mindanao.
Such risk is already easing in Regions 11 (Davao) and 12 (Soccsksargen), as well as Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, noted Pagulayan.
She reminded communities in Regions 10 (Northern Mindanao) and 13 (Caraga) to continue being alert to possible flooding and landslides there due to "Dante" rain. (PNA)
