Yellow rainfall alert raised over parts of Visayas due to ‘Basyang’

MANILA, Philippines–A yellow rainfall warning was raised over the southern parts of Eastern Samar and Western Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte and Biliran Island due to tropical storm “Basyang,” the state weather bureau said Friday.

In its 5 p.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned of flooding in low lying areas and landslides in mountainous areas.

A yellow rainfall advisory is raised when rainfall is expected to amount to between 7.5 millimeters (mm) and 15 mm within an hour and may likely continue.

Residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under storm signals were warned by Pagasa of possible flashfloods and landslides. Those living in areas under Signal No. 2 were warned of storm surges.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, Pagasa said the storm was estimated 201 km east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte.

It is expected to make landfall over Southern Leyte to Surigao del Norte late Friday night or early Saturday morning.

The storm intensified with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph, Pagasa said.

Signal number 2 is raised over the following provinces: Iloilo, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Siquijor, Guimaras, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran Island, Camotes Island, Camiguin, Dinagat Province, Surigao del Norte including Siargao Island, Northern Part of Surigao del Sur and Northern Part of Agusan del Norte.

Signal number 1 is raised over: Masbate, Palawan includnig Calamian Group of Islands, Northern Samar, Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, rest of Agusan del Norte, rest of Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, Northern part of Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte and Zamboanga del Norte.

Residents in areas under Signal No. 2 were alerted of storm surges.

Some Basyang-hit provinces were also severely affected last year by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake and super typhoon “Yolanda.”

Basyang is forecast to be at 166 kilometers northeast of Puerto Princesa on Saturday afternoon.

Pagasa officer-in-charge Vicente Malano said in a televised press briefing that Basyang was expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Sunday afternoon if it maintains its movement of 33kph west.

Fishing boats and other small seacraft were advised not to venture out into the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon and the eastern and southern seaboards of Southern Luzon due to the surge of northeast monsoon.

There were over 5,000 passengers stranded because of the storm.

Moderate to heavy rains are forecast within the 400 kilometer-diameter of the storm.

Eduardo del Rosario, executive director of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said advisories for affected areas were issued Thursday.

He said the affected areas would be northern portion of Mindanao and the southern portion of Central Visayas.

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