30 areas under storm signals as TS Dante aims for sixth landfall

Over two dozen areas remained under tropical cyclone wind signals (TCWS) as Tropical Storm Dante continue to batter the country.

According to PAGASA's 2 p.m. update on Wednesday, Dante, which has made five landfalls already, continues to move northwestward toward the southern portion of Batangas—northeastern portion of Oriental Mindoro.

Areas under TCWS No. 2 are the following:

• The northern portion of Romblon (Corcuera, Banton, Concepcion)
• Marinduque
• The northern and central portion of Oriental Mindoro (Roxas, Bongabong, San Teodoro, Puerto Galera, Baco, City of Calapan, Naujan, Victoria, Socorro, Pola, Pinamalayan, Gloria, Bansud)
• The northern and central portion of Occidental Mindoro (Sablayan, Santa Cruz, Paluan, Mamburao, Abra de Ilog, Lubang Islands)
• Batangas
• Cavite
• Bataan
• The southwestern portion of Bulacan (Calumpit, Bulacan, City of Malolos, Paombong, Hagonoy)
• The western portion of Pampanga (Masantol, Macabebe, Sasmuan, Lubao,
• Floridablanca, Porac, Guagua, Santa Rita, Angeles City, Mabalacat City, Minalin, Bacolor)
• Zambales
• The western portion of Tarlac (Bamban, Capas, San Jose, Mayantoc, Camiling, Santa Ignacia, San Clemente)
• The western portion of Pangasinan (Bolinao, Anda, Bani, Agno, Burgos, Infanta, Dasol, City of Alaminos, Mabini, Sual, Labrador, Bugallon, Aguilar, Mangatarem, Bayambang, Urbiztondo, Basista, Malasiqui, San Carlos City, Santa Barbara, Mangaldan, Dagupan City, Calasiao, Binmaley, Lingayen)

Meanwhile, TCWS No. 1 was raised over the following areas:

• The rest of Romblon
• The rest of Oriental Mindoro
• The rest of Occidental Mindoro
• The western portion of Quezon (Sampaloc, Mauban, Lucban, City of Tayabas, Candelaria, San Antonio, Tiaong, Dolores, Sariaya, Pagbilao, Lucena City, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Pitogo, Unisan, Gumaca, Lopez, Plaridel, Macalelon, Catanauan, General Luna, Buenavista, Mulanay, San Narciso, San Andres, San Francisco)
• Laguna
• Metro Manila
• Rizal
• The rest of Bulacan
• The rest of Pampanga
• The rest of Tarlac
• The western portion of Nueva Ecija (Cabiao, San Antonio, City of Gapan, San
• Isidro, San Leonardo, Jaen, Zaragoza, Licab, Guimba, Cuyapo, Nampicuan, Talugtug, Quezon, Aliaga, Santa Rosa)
• The rest of Pangasinan
• The southern portion of Benguet (Itogon, Tuba, Sablan, Baguio City, La Trinidad, Kapangan, Tublay)
• La Union
• Aklan
• The northern portion of Antique (Tibiao, Culasi, Sebaste, Pandan, Libertad, Caluya)

Multiple landfalls

As of 1 p.m. on Wednesday, the center of Dante was estimated over the coastal waters of Pola, Oriental Mindoro, with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph. It is moving northwestward at 25 kph.

Dante is expected to make another landfall over Bataan on Wednesday evening, after making landfalls in Sulat, Eastern Samar; Cataingan, Masbate; Balud, Masbate; Romblon, Romblon; and San Agustin, Romblon.

Meanwhile, the tropical storm is also forecast to weaken into a tropical depression on Wednesday night or Thursday morning.

3 dead

Meanwhile, three people were reported dead while one was missing amid the onslaught of Tropical Storm Dante, according to the latest report by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Landslides, flooding, flashfloods, and soil erosions were reported in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and Soccsksargen Region, the NDRRMC said.

Meanwhile, at least 2,642 people or 566 families were affected by the storm in 18 barangays in Davao and Soccsksargen regions. Of which, 604 persons or 150 families were staying in evacuation centers.

According to NDRRMC, around 10 road sections and three bridges were affected in Central Visayas, Davao, Soccsksargen and Caraga regions. Dante also rendered two roads and three bridges not passable.

Power interruptions were experienced in Maasin City and Padre Burgos in Southern Leyte as well as in Tubay, Agusan del Norte on Monday.

Hazards affecting land areas

According to PAGASA, Dante is expected to bring moderate to heavy with, at times, intense rains over CALABARZON, Romblon, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Bataan, Zambales, and Pangasinan.

The rest of Central Luzon, Metro Manila, the northern portion of Palawan including Calamian, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo Islands, Iloilo, and Guimaras may, meanwhile, experience moderate to heavy rains.

Light to moderate with, at times, heavy rains may also prevail over the Bicol Region, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Negros Occidental, and the rest of MIMAROPA.

PAGASA said widespread flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides are expected.

Meanwhile, strong winds to gale-force winds are expected over areas under TCWS No. 2 while strong winds are expected over areas under TCWS No. 1

Hazards affecting coastal areas

In the next 24 hours, PAGASA said rough to very rough seas will prevail over the seaboards of areas under TCWS No. 2 and the seaboards of the Bicol Region.

“Sea travel is risky for small seacrafts 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 areas under TCWS No. 1, the remaining seaboards of Visayas, the seabord of Caraga, the northern seaboard of Northern Mindanao, and the eastern seaboard of Davao Oriental.

“Mariners of small seacrafts are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea. Inexperienced mariners should avoid navigating in these conditions,” PAGASA said. —KBK, GMA News