MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE 3) Public storm signal warning No. 2 has been raised over nine Bicol and Eastern Visayan provinces as tropical storm “Pablo” (international codename: Higos) maintained its strength and is now off the coast of Eastern Samar, the state weather bureau said late Tuesday afternoon.

As of 4 p.m., Pablo was 50 kilometers north northeast of Borongan, Eastern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center with gusts of up to 80 kilometer per hour, and moving northwest at 17 kilometers per hour.

Signal No. 2 (winds of from 60-100 kilometers per hour) is over the provinces of Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, the Samar provinces (Samar, Northern Samar and Eastern Samar), Leyte and Biliran, as well as Ticao and Burias islands, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Atronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

Signal No. 1 was raised over Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Marinduque, Romblon, Quezon including Polilio Island, Oriental Mindoro, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, Southern Leyte, Capiz, Aklan, northern Iloilo, northern Negros, northern Cebu, Surigao del Norte, including Siargao and Dinagat islands.

Wednesday afternoon, Pablo is forecast to be 80 kilometers northwest of Pili, Camarines Norte, and 80 kilometers west northwest of Dagupan City by Thursday afternoon.

The storm is expected to be 270 kilometers northwest of Laoag City by Friday afternoon.

Residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes are advised to take precautions against possible flashfloods and landslides while those living in coastal areas under signal No. 2 are alerted against big waves and storm surges.