Sea travel from Cebu banned as ‘Agaton’ lashes province

This forecast track of tropical depression ‘Agaton’ shows the storm passing over the province of Cebu. PAGASA IMAGE

CEBU CITY — Sea vessels in Cebu have been barred from leaving after the province was placed under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1 due to tropical depression “Agaton.”

Agaton was crossing the Bohol Sea and was about 95 kilometers east of Tagbilaran City, Bohol, at about 4 a.m., according to the 5 a.m. bulletin of the weather bureau.

It had maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometer per hour (kph) with gustiness of 90 kph.

In Cebu City, wind velocity was estimated at 25 to 30 kph with gustiness of 45 to 60 kph, said Councilor Dave Tumulak.

It has been raining in Cebu since Sunday night.

A minor landslide was reported near Mt. View in Barangay Busay. Soil covered a portion of the barangay road but it remained passable.

A fallen tree was also reported in Sitio Hoyohoy in Busay, said Councilor Kevin Sanchez.

In Mandaue City, water at the Butuanon River and Mahiga Creek had reached the critical level, said Felix Suico, head of the city’s disaster office.

Suico said water at the Mahiga Creek in Barangay Subangdaku started to overflow at 5:12 a.m.

“We are now evacuating the residents along the riverbanks,” he said.

In Alcoy town, two fallen trees obstructed the flow of traffic along the national highway near the boundary of Dalaguete town. The obstruction was cleared after an hour. /cbb