Basyang slams into Surigao del Sur

Tropical Storm Basyang has made landfall in Cortes, Surigao del Sur.

Weather bureau PAGASA said the cyclone made landfall at around 9:15 a.m.

The cyclone was packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour with gusts of up to 80 kph.

It was moving northwest at 25 kph.

Basyang is expected to pass by Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental and Puerto Princesa City in Palawan before exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday morning.

PAGASA, meanwhile, issued heavy rainfall warnings over several areas in Mindanao due to the tropical storm at 9:30 a.m.

Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Siargao Island, Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Norte are placed under the red warning level, meaning serious and widespread flooding is expected and there is a higher chance of landslides.

The orange warning level was raised in Camiguin Island and Agusan del Sur. The warning level means "flooding is alarming" and there is also a possibility of landslides.

Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay were placed under yellow warning level.

At 10 a.m., PAGASA issued heavy rainfall warning for the Visayas. Orange warning was raised in Capiz, Aklan, Guimaras while yellow warning was raised in Iloilo and Antique.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal Number 2 is hoisted over:

• Bohol
• Southern Cebu
• Siquijor
• Negros Oriental
• southern Negros Occidental
• Southern Leyte
• Dinagat Island
• Surigao del Norte
• Surigao del Sur
• Agusan del Norte
• Agusan del Sur
• Camiguin
• Misamis Oriental
• northern section of Bukidnon

Signal Number is placed over the following areas:

• Palawan including Calamian Group of Islands
• southern section of Masbate
• Aklan
• Capiz
• Antique
• Iloilo
• Guimaras
• rest of Negros Occidental
• rest of Cebu
• Leyte
• Biliran
• Samar
• Eastern Samar
• Zamboanga del Sur
• northern section of Zamboanga del Norte
• northern section of Zamboanga Sibugay
• Misamis Occidental
• Lanao del Norte
• Lanao del Sur
• rest of Bukidnon
• North Cotabato
• Compostela Valley
• Davao del Norte
• northern section of Davao Oriental

—ALG, GMA News