‘Samuel’ to intensify into a storm before landfall — Pagasa

More areas were placed under Signal No. 1 as Tropical Depression “Samuel” moved closer to land.

Southern Leyte, Leyte, southern portions of Samar and Eastern Samar, Bohol, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Misamis Oriental, and Camiguin were put under Signal No. 1, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Samuel is expected to intensify into a storm before it hits land over Siargao-Dinagat Islands on Tuesday evening.

Moderate to heavy rains which may trigger flooding and landslides may occur over Caraga Region, Eastern Visayas, and the provinces of Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Bohol and Cebu, Pagasa said.

Samuel was last spotted 605 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 65 kph.

It was moving northwest at 15 kph. /je