TD ‘Samuel’ continues to move towards the Samar-Leyte-Dinagat area

Tropical Depression ‘Samuel’ continues to move west northwest towards Dinagat Island in Surigao and the Samar-Leyte area in Eastern Visayas and is projected to make a landfall in these areas by this evening, the state-run weather bureau said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), in its 11 a.m. bulletin, said that as of 10 a.m. today, the center of TD ‘Samuel’ was estimated based on all available data at 335 kilometers east of Maasin City, Southern Leyte.

It was still moving west northwest at 20 kilometers per hour (kph), with a maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 65 kph.

Pagasa warned that moderate to heavy rains, which may trigger flooding and landslides, was  expected over Visayas, Sorsogon, Masbate, Romblon, Dinagat Islands and Siargao islands. Residents of these areas, especially those living near or in river channels, low-lying and mountainous areas, were advised to take precautionary measures, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring for updates.

Fishersfolk and those with small seacrafts were likewise advised not to venture out over the areas under Storm Signal Number 1 and the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon.

These areas remain under storm Signal Number 1:

Luzon:  Masbate including Ticao Island, Romblon, southern Oriental Mindoro, southern Occidental Mindoro, and Northern Palawan including Cuyo Island, and Calamian Group of Islands.

Visayas: Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, , Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Guimaras, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, and Antique.

Mindanao:  Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Misamis Oriental, and Camiguin.