Agaton continues to move slowly, now over Santa Rita, Samar — PAGASA
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 11) — Tropical Depression Agaton continued to move slowly while moving over Santa Rita, Samar, the state weather bureau said in its 11 p.m. bulletin on Monday.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Agaton last made landfall over Basey, Samar at 4 p.m.
The weather system is currently packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 70 kph.
Storm Signal No. 1 is still up in the southern portion of Masbate, Eastern Samar, Samar, Northern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, and in the northeastern portion of Cebu including Camotes Island, and Dinagat Islands.
Floods hit parts of Leyte town
Heavy rains brought by Agaton have caused massive flooding in many parts of Abuyog, Leyte.
One resident said her family was surprised when flood waters started to enter their house while they were having dinner.
“It hurts, of course. It was too sudden. For the longest time, we have not experienced massive flooding. We are worried about our house. We don’t have clothes and our other stuff are gone. We will start again from scratch.”
As of 9 a.m., a situational report from the National Disaster Risk, Reduction, and Management Council showed that 195 areas from eight regions have experienced flooding.
Local authorities also recovered 14 bodies from a number of areas hit by landslides in Baybay City.
The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said six people were reported missing, while 16 others were injured.
Until Tuesday evening, PAGASA said moderate to heavy with intense rains may be expected over Eastern Visayas, Sorsogon, Masbate, the northern and central portions of Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Antique, Guimaras, and the northern and central portions of the Negros provinces.
Meanwhile, light to moderate with at times heavy rains may be experienced over MIMAROPA, Dinagat Islands, Zamboanga del Norte, Quezon, and the rest of Visayas and Bicol Region
A number of local government units in the Visayas suspended classes on Monday due to heavy rains.
The weather bureau also projects Agaton to continue “meandering in the vicinity of Samar-Leyte-Biliran before turning more east southeastward towards the Philippine Sea by late evening tomorrow or Wednesday morning.”
“Due to the combined effects of land interaction, increasing vertical wind shear, and the effects of the upper-level outflow of Severe Tropical Storm Malakas, this tropical depression is forecast to deteriorate into a remnant low within 36 hours” before merging within the circulation of Malakas, PAGASA said.
Meanwhile, Malakas is forecast to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday night or early Tuesday morning. PAGASA weather specialist Ana Clauren told CNN Philippines’ Balitaan that it will be named Basyang once it enters the storm monitoring area.
Although Malakas is unlikely to directly affect the weather condition in the country, it is expected to affect the movement of Agaton, PAGASA said.