‘Urduja’ weakens but continues to wreak havoc

Tropical Storm “Urduja” has weakened after making landfall on Saturday over Eastern Samar, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

In its 8:00 p.m. severe weather bulletin on Saturday, Pagasa said Urduja’s maximum sustained wind has weakened to 75 kph with a gustiness of up to 120 kph. It was moving west at 15 kph.

The storm was last tracked in the vicinity of San Jose de Buan, Samar as it continued to wreak havoc in provinces in Southern Luzon and in the Visayas.

Moderate to heavy rains will persist over Bicol region and Visayas, according to Pagasa.

It would also prevail over Southern Quezon, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Mindoro Provinces, Marinduque and Romblon.

Pagasa warned residents in these areas of flashfloods and landslides.

Sea travel remains risky over the seaboards of areas where storm warning signals are raised.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), about 13,387 passengers were left stranded in ports due to the weather.

Storm Signal No. 2 was raised over these areas:

• Sorsogon
• Masbate including Ticao Islands
• Romblon
• Northern Samar
• Northern part of Eastern Samar
• Northern part of Samar
• Biliran
• Northern Antique
• Aklan
• Capiz
• Northern Iloilo

Storm Signal No. 1 was hoisted over these areas:

• Southern Quezon
• Marinduque
• Southern part of Occidental Mindoro
• Southern part of Oriental Mindoro
• Catanduanes
• Camarines Sur
• Albay
• Burias Island
• Northern Palawan
• Cuyo Island
• Calamian Group of Islands
• Rest of Iloilo
• Rest of Samar
• Rest of Eastern Samar
• Guimaras
• Negros Occidental
• Northern part of Negros Oriental
• Northern Cebu
• Leyte

Pagasa predicted that the tropical storm would be out of the country by Wednesday, Dec. 23. /atm