Storm set to bash Eastern Visayas anew

Published January 31, 2014 11:30am

(Updated 1:05 p.m.) Barely dry from Tropical Depression Agaton's week-long rainfall, scores of homeless Yolanda victims still living in tents are bracing for another wet weekend.

Tropical Depression Basyang intensified into a storm shortly before noon Friday with 30 areas placed under storm signals, the state weather agency said Friday.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Basyang is expected to make landfall over the Southern Leyte-northern tip of Surigao del Norte area late Friday evening or early Saturday morning.

The weather agency said Basyang was monitored to be packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kph with gustiness of up to 80 kph as it moves towards the Caraga area.

Moderate to heavy rain (5 to 15 mm per hour) is expected to fall within the 400-kilometer diameter of the storm.

As of 10 a.m., Basyang was located 500 km east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, and is expected to be in the vicinity of Naga City, Cebu province by Saturday morning; and 133 km northwest of Puerto Princesa City by Sunday morning.

PAGASA said the storm is expected to be outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (729 km west northwest of Puerto Princesa City) by Monday morning.

Agaton, Yolanda casualties

Early this month, Tropical Depression Agaton hit the Davao area, claiming 70 lives and injuring 86 others, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said in its latest report.

THe NDRRMC also said Agaton had affected 244,344 families or 1,148,621 people in 1,002 villages in 118 towns in 16 provinces in Regions 10, 11, 12, Caraga and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Damage from Agaton was estimated at P566,714,173.23, including P273,623,750 in infrastructure and P293,090,423.23 in agriculture, the NDRRMC added.

Agaton struck as many parts of the Visayas were still reeling from the devastation of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in early November. Yolanda, described as a super typhoon, left over 6,000 people dead.

Storm signals

Areas under public storm signal No. 2 are:

Cebu
Bohol
Leyte
Southern Leyte
Eastern Samar
Samar
Camotes Island
Camiguin
Dinagat Province
Surigao del Norte, including Siargao Island
Northern part of Surigao del Sur
Northern part of Agusan del Norte

Areas under Storm Signal No. 1 are:

Northern Samar
Biliran Island
Aklan
Capiz
Antique
Iloilo
Guimaras
Negros Occidental
Negros Oriental
Siquijor
Misamis Oriental
Misamis Occidental
rest of Agusan del Norte
rest of Surigao del Sur
Agusan del Sur
Northern part of Bukidnon
Zamboanga del Norte

PAGASA warned residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under these provinces of possible flash floods and landslides. In addition, those living in the coastal areas under Signal No. 2 are alerted against possible storm surges. — Kim Luces/RSJ/LBG/KBK, GMA News

Tags: weather, basyang, stormbasyang