Storm Urduja to make landfall in E. Samar

MANILA, Philippines — A tropical depression which developed off the Bicol region yesterday intensified into a storm and is now threatening Eastern and Northern Samar.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Urduja is expected to make landfall over Eastern Samar today.

Signal No. 2 was hoisted over Eastern Samar, Samar and Biliran while signal No. 1
was raised over Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate and Romblon in Luzon, and Northern Samar, Leyte and Southern Leyte, Northern Cebu including Bantayan Island, Capiz, Aklan and Northern Iloilo in the Visayas.

At 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of the storm was estimated at 85 kilometers east southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, PAGASA said.

It has maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph. It is forecast to move west at seven kph.

Esperanza Cayanan of the PAGASA weather division said Urduja would bring moderate to heavy rainfall.

“Scattered to widespread rains are expected over the Visayas and Bicol, Caraga and Northern Mindanao regions within 24 hours,” Cayanan said.

Residents in these areas are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Fisherfolk and those with small seacraft were also advised not to venture into the eastern seaboard of Bicol and in the seaboards of Visayas due to rough to very rough seas.

Floods, landslides

Yesterday, Urduja’s induced rains brought widespread flooding in 16 barangays on Samar island.

Two landslides were reported in Eastern Samar, the Office of Civil Defenese (OCD) said.

Reports reaching the OCD operation center at Camp Aguinaldo said 10 barangays in Guiuan town, two barangays in Hernani, one in Quinapondan, and three in Balangiga were flooded yesterday.

Heavy to moderate rains also triggered landslides in Barangay Paya in Giporlos town and Barangay Libas in San Julian town.

Floods also caused two bridges to overflow in Giporlos and San Juan towns and closed traffic along the highway in the two towns.

As of yesterday, 1,246 passengers, 18 buses, 123 trucks and 30 light cars were stranded in ports of Northern Samar and Southern Leyte after the Philippine Coast Guard canceled sea travel due to bad weather.

By Sunday morning, the storm is expected to be at 160 kilometers northeast of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. On Monday, it will be at 155 kilometers west northwest of Puerto Princesa City, PAGASA said.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council raised its disaster alert to blue the other day, in anticipation of the widespread flooding due to Urduja. – With Jaime Laude