10 more Mindanao provinces placed under Signal No. 1

MTSAT ENHANCED-IR Satellite Image 2 a.m., 19 February 2013

MANILA, Philippines—Tropical depression Crising has maintained its strength and is threatening southeastern Mindanao, according to the latest weather update of the state weather bureau.

As of 11 p.m. on Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has placed 14 provinces in Mindanao under Signal No. 1 (45-60 kph winds). In addition to Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur (including Samal Island), Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley, which were earlier put under Signal No. 1, the following provinces are also placed under the same signal:

— Southern part of Surigao del Sur
— Agusan del Sur
— Bukidnon
— Lanao del Norte
— Lanao del Sur
— North Cotabato
— Maguindanao
— Sultan Kudarat
— South Cotabato
— Sarangani.

Pagasa alerted residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under Signal 1 against possible flashfloods and landslides.
Pagasa also advised fishing boats and other small seacrafts not to venture out into the eastern seaboards of the country and over the northern seaboard of northern Luzon.

Crising was spotted 450 kilometers east of General Santos City with maximum winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center.

It is forecast to move west northwest at 19 kph.

Crising is forecast to be 40 km east of Davao City on Tuesday evening, 150 km north of Zamboanga City Wednesday evening and 100 km southwest of Puerto Princesa Thursday evening.—Rick Alberto