‘Urduja’ picks up pace as it moves toward Sorsogon

Residents in Sorsogon should prepare for more rain and stronger winds as tropical storm Urduja (international name: Kai-Tak) slightly accelerated and moved closer to the province, the state weather bureau said Saturday.

In its 11 a.m. severe weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Urduja’s speed had slightly increased to 15 kilometers per hour (kph) from 10 kph early Saturday morning.

Pagasa said the tropical storm is expected to continue dumping heavy rain in the Eastern Visayas and Bicol regions, , and will maintain its trajectory movement to the west.

Urduja has maximum sustained winds of up to 80 kph and gustiness of up to 110 kph.

As of 10 a.m., Urduja was spotted at 75 kilometers north northeast of Borongan City in Eastern Samar or 120 kilometers east southeast of Catarman.

Tropical cyclone warning signal No. 2 has been raised over Aklan, Capiz, and northern Iloilo. The same warning signal was earlier raised over Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate (including Burias and Ticao islands), Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, and Leyte.

Signal No. 1 has also been raised over Mindoro provinces. The same warning signal was earlier raised over Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, rest of Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, northern Negros Oriental, Cebu, northern Bohol, Southern Leyte, and Dinagat Islands.

Pagasa warned residents these areas to prepare and coordinate with their local government and their risk reduction and management offices. /jpv

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