More areas under Signal No. 2 as Dante moves towards Eastern Visayas

More areas were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 as Tropical Storm Dante moved north-northwestward toward the southern portion of Eastern Visayas, PAGASA said Tuesday.

In its 2 p.m. update, the state weather agency said the following areas under TCWS No. 2 will experience strong winds to gale-force winds:

• Catanduanes
• The Southern portion of Camarines Sur ((Caramoan, Presentacion, Lagonoy, San Jose, Sagñay, Garchitorena, Buhi, Iriga City, Bato, Nabua, Balatan, Goa,
• Tigaon, Ocampo, Bula, Baao, Pili, Minalabac, Milaor, Naga City, Calabanga, Bombon, Magarao, Canaman, Camaligan, Gainza, San Fernando, Tinambac, Siruma)
• Masbate including Ticao and Burias Island
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Eastern Sasmar
• Samar
• Northern Samar
• Biliran
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Dinagat Islands
• Siargao
• Bucas Grande Islands

Meanwhile, the following areas under TCWS No. 1 will experience strong winds:

• Quezon including Polillo Islands
• Camarines Norte
• The rest of Camarines Sur
• Marinduque
• Romblon
• Aklan
• Capiz
• The northern portion of Iloilo  (Lambunao, Janiuay, Dumangas, Zarraga, New Lucena, Pototan, Mina, Badiangan, Dueñas, Calinog, Bingawan, City of Passi, San Enrique, Dingle, Barotac Nuevo, Banate, Anilao, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael, Lemery, Ajuy, Sara, San Dionisio, Concepcion, Batad, Estancia, Balasan, Carles)
• The northern portion of Negros Occidental (San Carlos City, Salvador Benedicto, Cadiz City, Sagay City, City of Escalante, Toboso, Calatrava, City of Talisay, Silay City, Enrique B. Magalona, City of Victorias, Manapla, Murcia, Bacolod City)
• Bohol

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• The northern and central Portion of Cebu  (Daanbantayan, Medellin, City
• of Bogo, San Remigio, Tabogon, Borbon, Tabuelan, Sogod, Tuburan, Catmon, Carmen, Danao City, Asturias, Balamban, Compostela, Liloan, Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Consolacion, Cordova, Toledo City, City of Talisay, Minglanilla, City of Naga, Pinamungahan, San Fernando, Aloguinsan, City of Carcar) including Bantayan and Camotes Islands
• The rest of Surigao del Norte
• Surigao del Sur
• Agusan del Norte
• Agusan del Sur
• The northeastern portion of Misamis Oriental (Magsaysay, Gingoog City,
• Talisayan, Balingoan, Medina)
• Camiguin

At 1 p.m. on Tuesday, the center of Dante was estimated at 220 kilometers east-northeast of Maasin City, Southern Leyte with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

It is moving north-northeastward at 15 kph.

PAGASA said Dante is expected to make landfall over Eastern Samar or Leyte between Tuesday evening and early Wednesday morning.

1 dead, 1 missing

As reports of Dante's effects started trickling in, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Tuesday that one person was reported dead while another one was missing. Both of them were from the Soccsksargen Region, where flooding, landslides, flashfloods were experienced.

In a report, the NDRRMC said 160 families or 612 persons in nine barangays in Davao Region were affected by Dante. Around 158 families or 604 persons were staying in 10 evacuation centers.

In Banga, South Cotabato, at least three bridges were not passable due to the rains and floods caused by Dante.

Hazards affecting land

From Tuesday to Wednesday morning, Dante is expected to bring moderate to heavy with, at times, intense rains over Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Samar, and Eastern Samar.

Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rains are expected over Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Northern Samar, Bohol, the northern portion of Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, Sorsogon, and Masbate.

Catanduanes, Albay, Camarines Sur, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Camiguin, Bukidnon, Davao Region, and SOCCSKSARGEN will also experience light to moderate with, at times, heavy rains.

“Under these conditions and considering antecedent rainfall, scattered flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides are highly likely,” PAGASA said.

“Adjacent or nearby areas may also experience flooding in the absence of such rainfall occurrence due to surface runoff or swelling of river channels,” it added.

Hazards affecting coastal waters

In the next 24 hours, rough to very rough seas will be experienced over the seaboards of areas under TCWS No. 2 and the eastern seaboard of Caraga.

“Sea travel is risky for small seacraft over these waters. Mariners without the proper experience should immediately seek safe harbor,” PAGASA said.

Meanwhile, moderate to rough seas are expected over the seaboards of Davao Oriental and the remaining seaboards of areas under TCWS No. 1.

PAGASA advised mariners of small seacraft to take precautionary measures while inexperienced marines were advised to avoid sea voyage.  —KBK, GMA News