MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE 2) Tropical Depression "Urduja,” which made landfall in Southern Leyte early Tuesday, has changed direction and is now moving east-northeast, according to the weather bureau.
A high-pressure area near Palawan in the Sulu Sea is blocking Urduja’s way, said Prisco Nilo, director of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
Urduja was earlier monitored to be tracking a west-northwest route through the Visayas on its way out of the country.
However, another weather disturbance east of the country, a tropical storm with international name “Nida,” is pulling Urduja eastward, Nilo said.
Nida, which is still outside the Philippines’ area of responsibility, is forecast to move northeast.
Nilo said Urduja would eventually follow an east-northeast route.
As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, the center of Urduja was spotted 40 kilometers north of Surigao City, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour.
By Wednesday afternoon, Urduja is forecast to be 80 km northeast of Surigao City.
Pagasa raised Storm Signal No. 1 over Bohol, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Camotes Island, Biliran, Eastern Samar and Western Samar in the Visayas; and the Surigao provinces, Agusan del Norte, Dinagat island, Siargao island and Camiguin in Mindanao.
Residents in low-lying areas and living near mountain slopes were warned against possible flashfloods and landslides.
Bohol, Eastern Visayas and Northeastern Mindanao will see rains and occasional gusty winds with moderate to rough seas. Southern Luzon and the rest of Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of Luzon, including Metro Manila, will be mostly cloudy with scattered light rains.
A total of 479 persons were stranded in the ports of Sorsogon and Masbate provinces on Tuesday after the Coast Guard cancelled all ship travel as Urduja moved over Southern Leyte.
In Sorsogon, 277 passengers bound for Masbate were stranded in Pilar port and 162 in Bulan port, according to a report from the Office of Civil Defense in Bicol.
About 40 passengers were also stranded in Bapor port in Masbate.
The report said 9 trucks, 7 cars, 7 buses and 13 fishing vessels were also stranded in different ports. With Joanna Los Bańos, Inquirer Southern Luzon
