Weather: More areas under Signal No. 1 as 'Ramon' accelerates

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Monday evening placed seven areas under Storm Signal No. 1 as Tropical Depression Ramon accelerated west-northwest. In its 11 p.m. update, PAGASA placed the following areas under Signal No. 1 — which means residents there should expect winds of 45 to 80 kilometers per hour within the next 36 hours:

• Southern Leyte
• Surigao del Norte
• Surigao del Sur
• Siargao Island
• Agusan del Norte
• Northern Agusan del Sur
• Dinagat Group of Islands

The state weather bureau estimated “Ramon," at 440 km east-southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur as of 10 p.m. PAGASA then projected the tropical depression at 130 km southwest of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur by Tuesday evening, and 60 km north of Cebu City by Wednesday evening. By Thursday evening, PAGASA said it expects Ramon at 60 km northwest of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. PAGASA added that Ramon may bring five to 25 mm per hour (moderate to heavy) of rainfall within its 300-km diameter. Possible landslides A number of provinces expected to be hit by Ramon should brace themselves not only for strong winds and for heavy rain, but also for possible landslides, said the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in a report on GMA News “Saksi" late Tuesday.
Surigao del Norte, for example, has pieces of land that are at 50- to 60-percent risk of eroding, noted the MGB. “‘Yan ‘yung mga bulubundukin na lugar. ‘Yan ‘yung mga may high slopes, steep slopes, tapos makapal ang lupa. Then marami siyang drainage system na doon pumupunta ‘yung mga tubig at nagiging cause ng landslide," said MGB supervising science research specialist Salvio Laserna. Meanwhile, an earlier report by the US Navy projected that the cyclone may make landfall as early as Wednesday. It may also hit Cebu, Negros and the Panay islands if it will not change course. — PE/VS, GMA News