‘Basyang’ expected to make Caraga landfall on Tuesday

Tropical Storm “Basyang” (international name: Sanba) is expected to bring heavy rains over Mindanao that could trigger flooding and landslides as it makes landfall in the Caraga region on Tuesday.

In a weather bulletin on Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned of widespread moderate to heavy rains over the regions of Caraga, northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula and the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, as well as portions of the Visayas.

As of 1 p.m. on Monday, the center of Basyang was estimated to be 570 kilometers east-southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph as it approached Mindanao’s eastern seaboard.

Storm signals were hoisted over 25 areas on Monday afternoon with Signal No. 2 raised over Surigao del Sur.

Pagasa weather forecaster Ariel Rojas said rains were also expected over the Bicol region and Eastern Visayas.

In Davao City, the alert level against possible floods and slides continued to be in effect as Basyang neared landfall, said the Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

It ordered all emergency response units to remain under full alert as rains brought by Basyang could swell the Davao River and trigger flash floods. —REPORTS FROM JAYMEE T. GAMIL, ALLAN NAWAL AND ERWIN MASCARIÑAS