Storm signal 1 raised over Catanduanes, Northern Samar

Screengrab from noah.dost.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines—Public Storm Signal No. 1 was raised over Catanduanes and Northern Samar late Thursday night as Tropical Storm “Amang” (international name: Mekkhala) moved closer to Eastern Visayas.

Residents in these areas and in Samar and Leyte provinces were warned of possible flash floods and landslides.

Ocean waves may also reach up to 6.5 meters, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in its 11 p.m. bulletin.

Pagasa said Amang had slightly intensified with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 90 kph.

The storm, Pagasa said, was moving west northwest at 19kph.

The 11 p.m. weather bulletin said it was possible the storm signal might also be raised over the rest of the Bicol region in the next six hours.

Amang was last observed 665 kilometers east of Borongan City in Eastern Samar.

Heavy to intense rains were seen within the 300 kilometer diameter of the storm.

Small sea craft were advised not to venture out over the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon and Visayas.