Signal No. 1 in Visayas, Mindanao as ‘Basyang’ nears

A satellite photo released by Pagasa Monday morning, Feb. 12, 2018, shows cloud bands stirred by Tropical Storm ‘Basyang’ over Eastern Visayas and Mindanao as the weather disturbance (orange and yellow spot lower right) moves closer to the archipelago. PAGASA PHOTO

Signal No. 1 was raised over parts of Visayas and Mindanao early Monday as Tropical Storm Basyang (Sanba) continued its west-northwest track.

“Scattered to widespread moderate to heavy rains are expected over the eastern section of Visayas and of Mindanao later in the day,” Obet Badrina of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Signal No. 1 was raised over Southern Leyte, Bohol, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Camiguin, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Sur, and Bukidnon.

Basyang was last spotted 690 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 80 kph. It was moving 25 kph west northwest.

The storm is expected to make landfall over the Caraga region by Tuesday morning, Badrina said.

Sea travel is dangerous over the seaboards of Northern Luzon, eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon, Eastern Visayas, and areas under storm signal. /cbb