‘Urduja’ stronger; 16 provinces under signal no. 1

Tropical depression ‘Urduja’ gained strength Thursday morning as it moved closer to Eastern Samar, prompting the weather bureau to place six more areas and provinces under cyclone warning no. 1.

Cyclone signal no. 1 has been raised over 16 areas in Luzon and the Visayas as tropical depression ‘Urduja’ moves closer to the Samar region, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin on Thursday, Pagasa included Northern Cebu – including Bantayan Island – Cadiz, Aklan, Northern Iloilo, and Camarines Sur to the areas under cyclone warning signal.

The cyclone warning had been raised over Biliran, Leyte, and Southern Leyte in the Visayas, and over Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate in Luzon.

On Wednesday, Pagasa raised a storm signal over Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar.

Moderate to heavy rain is expected over these areas and others within the 400-kilometer diameter of the tropical depression.

The weather bureau alerted residents in the Visayas and the regions of Bicol, Caraga, and Northern Mindanao over flashfloods and landslides due to scattered to widespread rain.

Small seacraft are advised not to sail over the eastern seaboard of Bicol and Eastern Visayas due to moderate to rough seas spawned by Urduja.

From 55 kilometers per hour (kph), Urduja’s maximum winds have strengthened to 60 kph with gustiness up to 80 kph. It was moving west at 7 kph.

Pagasa predicts Urduja to make landfall in Eastern Samar on Friday morning.

The tropical depression was last spotted 120 km East of Guiuan, Eastern Samar. /cbb