Pagasa: Severe flooding likely in low-lying areas of Eastern Visayas amid ‘red’ rainfall alert
Weather satellite image from Pagasa
MANILA, Philippines — Severe flooding may hit low-lying areas of Eastern Visayas on Wednesday afternoon as state meteorologists warned of severe rainfall due to the trough of a low-pressure area (LPA) off Mindanao and the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ).
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) issued at 2 p.m. a color-coded rainfall advisory in Visayas and placed areas such as Eastern Samar, Samar, and Biliran under “red” warning.
“Red [warning] means community response. Severe flooding is expected and dwellers living in low-lying areas and near river channels should take precautionary measures,” Pagasa weather specialist Munir Baldomero explained in a phone interview with INQUIRER.net.
Baldomero said areas under red warning may experience torrential rain or at least 30 millimeters of rainfall per hour.
He added that an “orange” warning was also raised over Leyte and Southern Leyte.
“Kapag nakataas ang orange warning, it means community preparedness. Ang flooding is threatening low-lying areas and near river channels,” he explained, adding that places under orange warning may expect 15 millimeters of rain per hour.
(When an orange warning is raised, it means community preparedness. Flooding is threatening low-lying areas and near river channels.)
Pagasa’s color-coded rainfall warnings are “yellow” (alert), “orange” (preparation), and “red” (action), Baldomero noted.
As for the LPA 705 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, Pagasa said it remains embedded in the ITCZ south of the archipelago as of 10 a.m. on Wednesday.
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