Over 20 areas still under storm signals as TS Dante maintains strength

Twelve areas remained under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 as Tropical Storm Dante maintained its strength while moving westward over the Philippine Sea.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said areas under TCWS No. 2 are the following:

• Masbate including Ticao and Burias Island,
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Eastern Samar
• Samar
• Northern Samar
• Biliran
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Dinagat Islands
• Siargao
• Bucas Grande Islands

Areas under TCWS No. 1, meanwhile, are:

• Quezon including Polillo Islands
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes
• Marinduque
• Romblon
• Aklan
• Capiz
• the northern and central 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
• 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
• and the northeastern portion of Misamis Oriental (Magsaysay, Gingoog City, Talisayan, Balingoan, Medina)
• Camiguin

As of 10 a.m., Dante was estimated based on all available data at 235 km east of Maasin City, Southern Leyte (10.2°N, 127.0°E).

It has maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h near the center, gustiness up to 90 km/h, and central pressure of 996 hPa. It was moving westward at 25km/h, with gale force winds extending outward up to 100 km from the center.

Based on its track and intensity outlook, PAGASA said Dante will continue moving generally west-northwestward or northwestward until Wednesday evening.

PAGASA stated in its previous forecast that the center of the tropical storm Dante could make its initial landfall over Eastern Samar or Leyte between this Tuesday afternoon and evening.

There is an increasing likelihood that Dante will move more west-northwestward or westward in the near-term, which may bring the area of initial landfall over Leyte or Dinagat Islands-Siargao Islands area due to the movement of the storm over the past three to six hours.

Tropical storm Dante is forecast to maintain its strength prior to landfall. It may weaken into a tropical depression on Friday and to low pressure area on Saturday, the state weather bureau said.

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.  --Jamil Santos/KBK, GMA News