‘Urduja’ maintains strength despite making landfall in E. Samar

Tropical storm “Urduja” (international name: Kai-Tak) has made landfall in Eastern Samar but it kept its strength and pace, the state weather bureau said Saturday.

In its 2 p.m. severe weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that Urduja made landfall at 1:30 p.m. in San Policarpio, Eastern Samar.

READ: NDRRMC: 3 perish, 6 hurt as ‘Urduja’ ravages Visayas

The storm has maintained its maximum sustained winds of up to 80 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 110 kph and its speed of up to 15 kph moving to the west.

Pagasa warned that heavy rains would prevail over the areas under tropical cyclone warning signal.

Signal No. 2 has been declared over Aklan, Capiz, and northern Iloilo, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate (including Burias and Ticao islands), Romblon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, and Leyte.

Signal No. 1, meanwhile, has been raised over Mindoro provinces, southern Quezon, Marinduque, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Cuyo Islands, Calamian Group of Islands, Antique, Capiz, rest of Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Cebu, northern Bohol, southern Leyte, and Dinagat Islands.

Sea travel remains risky in the seaboard of these areas with wave heights that could reach 4.1 to 14 meters.  /jpv

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