Agaton now over Negros Oriental —PAGASA

Tropical depression Agaton is now crossing the Visayas after slamming into Mindanao on New Year's Day, weather bureau PAGASA said Tuesday.

As of 8 a.m., the center of Agaton was in the vicinity of Bais City in Negros Oriental.

The cyclone was packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 90 kph.

It is forecast to move west at 25 kph.

After crossing Visayas provinces, the cyclone is expected to hit Palawan by Wednesday and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by 5 a.m. Thursday.

Tropical cyclone warning signal Number 1 is hoisted over nine provincesw including:

• Palawan, including Cuyo Island
• Bohol
• Cebu
• Siquijor
• Guimaras
• Negros Oriental
• Negros Occidental
• southern Antique
• southern Iloilo

PAGASA said Agaton was dumping heavy rains over a large part of Visayas.

Scattered to widespread moderate to heavy rains are also expected in Misamis Occidental, Dipolog City, northern Zamboanga del Norte and Palawan.

The weather bureau warned against possible landslides and flash floods in these areas.

It reminded that sea travel is banned in areas under the cyclone warning signal and sea travel is also risky over the seaboard of northern and southern Luzon, the eastern seaboard Central Luzon and the eastern and western seaboards of Visayas and eastern seaboard of Mindanao due to Agaton and the northeast monsoon. —ALG, GMA News