Expect more rains as ‘Amang’ closes in on Visayas

Pagasa satellite image as of 12:00 PM, Saturday, January 17, 2015

MANILA, Philippines—Expect no let-up of heavy rains in the Visayas as Tropical Storm “Amang” (international name: Mekkhala) inches closer to Eastern Samar.

Amang was spotted 120 kilometers east northeast of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, according to the 11 a.m. bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Pope Francis pushed through with his trip to Tacloban City and Palo in Leyte despite the storm. The five-day papal visit to the Philippines was prompted by the desire of the Pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, to express solidarity with the victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” and other disasters.

Pagasa said Amang has maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 130 kilometers per hour.

The tropical storm may hit Borongan City Saturday afternoon or early evening, it said.

Pagasa has raised Public Storm Signal No. 2 in Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar and Leyte, including Biliran, Catanduanes, Albay, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Masbate, Burias Island and Ticao Island.

Signal No. 1 was hoisted in Camarines Norte, Quezon including Polillo Island, Laguna, Rizal, Batangas, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Northern Iloilo, northern part of Negros Occidental, Southern Leyte, Northern Cebu including Cebu City, Bantayan Island, Camotes Island, Capiz, Aklan and Dinagat Island.

Residents in low-lying and mountainous areas of the provinces with public storm signal are warned of possible flashfloods and landslides.

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