The weather disturbance locally named “Urduja” (international name: Kai-tak) has intensified into a tropical storm as it continues to threaten Samar provinces, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
In its 2 p.m. severe weather bulletin on Thursday, Pagasa said that tropical storm Urduja is expected to make landfall over Eastern Samar on Friday morning.
Urduja’s strength also intensified, packing maximum sustained winds of up to 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
The state weather bureau estimated moderate to heavy rainfall amount within the 400-kilometer diameter of the tropical storm.
Urduja was last seen 90 kilometers east-southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar and it continues to move west at 7 kph, as of Thursday afternoon.
Pagasa raised Storm Signal No. 2 in these provinces:
- Eastern Samar
- Samar
- Biliran
Signal No. 1 was raised in some areas in Luzon and Visayas:
- Catanduanes
- Camarines Sur
- Albay
- Sorsogon
- Masbate
- Romblon
- Northern Samar
- Leyte
- Southern Leyte
- Northern Cebu including Bantayan Island
- Capiz
- Aklan
- Northern Iloilo
Pagasa also warned residents in the Visayas and regions of Bicol, Caraga and Northern Mindanao of possible flashfloods and landslides due to scattered to widespread rains brought by Urduja.
The state weather bureau advised the public and the disaster risk reduction and management council to take appropriate actions and monitor its severe weather bulletins. /jpv