‘Agaton’ moves toward Palawan; storm signal lifted from 7 areas

This satellite photo released by Pagasa mid-Tuesday morning, Jan. 2, 2018, shows tropical depression ‘Agaton’ somewhere west of Negros Island in the Visayas. PAGASA PHOTO

Cyclone warning in some provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao were lifted as tropical depression “Agaton” moved west Tuesday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Storm signals over Southern Leyte, Surigao del Norte, including Siargao Island, Agusan del Norte, Dinagat Island, Northern Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, and Zamboanga del Norte were removed by Pagasa.

Nonetheless, nine areas were under signal no. 1 after the cyclone warning was hoisted over Southern Antique and Southern Iloilo.

Still under cyclone warning are Palawan, including Cuyo Island; Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, Guimaras, Negros Oriental, and Negros Occidental.

Pagasa said Agaton maintained its strength with maximum sustained winds of 55  kilometers per hour (kph)  near the center and gustiness of 90 kph.

It was last spotted 60 km west-southwest of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, moving west at a speed of 25 kph.

The weather bureau forecast scattered to widespread, moderate to heavy rain over the Visayas and the provinces Misamis Occidental, Dipolog City, Northern Zamboanga del Norte and Palawan.

The agency warned residents in affected areas to be on alert for possible flooding and landslides.

“Residents of these areas must undertake precautionary measures against possible flooding and landslides and coordinate with their respective local disaster risk reduction and management,” Pagasa said. /cbb