Brace for flood, landslides as ‘Urduja’ makes landfall in Samar

Residents in Eastern and Northern Samar should prepare for possible flooding and landslides as tropical storm “Urduja” (international name: Kai-Tak) is slowly approaching the affected provinces, the state weather bureau said Saturday.

In its 8 a.m. severe weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Urduja was expected to make a landfall in the area of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar Saturday afternoon or evening.

Pagasa warned local residents in these provinces to prepare and coordinate with their local government units and their risk reduction and management offices for proper actions regarding their safety.

According to Pagasa, the tropical storm is slowly moving west at the speed of 10 kilometers per hour (kph). Its center was last spotted at 125 kilometers east northeast of Borongan City in Eastern Samar.

Urduja is packing maximum sustained winds of up to 80 kph with gustiness of up to 95 kph.

Tropical cylone warning signal No. 2 has been raised over Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate (including Burias and Ticao islands), Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, and Leyte.

Signal No. 1 has been raised in southern Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, northern Negros Oriental, Cebu, northern Bohol, Southern Leyte, and Dinagat Islands.

Signal No. 1 is also expected to be hoisted over Mindoro provinces, Batangas, Cuyo Islands, and Calamian Group of Islands within the next three hours, Pagasa said. /jpv

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