20 areas under storm signal due to 'Queenie'

MANILA, Philippines - The state weather bureau on Wednesday raised a public storm warning signal over 20 areas after a low pressure area spotted near Mindanao developed into a tropical cyclone.

In a weather bulletin issued at 7:30 a.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the center of Tropical Depression "Queenie" was located at 260 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur or at 310 kilometers east southeast of Surigao City.

PAGASA said Queenie is packing maximum winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center while moving west northwest at 25 kph. 

Moderate to heavy rainfall has been estimated within the 300-kilometer diameter of the tropical depression.

Twenty areas have been placed under public storm signal no. 1:

• Southern Leyte
• Bohol
• Southern Cebu
• Southern Negros Oriental
• Southern Negros Occidental
• Siquijor
• Surigao del Norte
• Siargao Island
• Surigao del Sur
• Agusan del Norte
• Agusan del Sur
• Davao del Norte
• Davao Oriental
• Compostella Valley
• Dinagat Province
• Camiguin
• Misamis Oriental
• Misamis Occidental
• Bukidnon
• Zamboanga del Norte

The weather bureau said residents in low lying and mountainous areas of the provinces with the storm signal as well as the rest of Mindanao are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. 

Fishermen and those with small seacraft are also advised not to venture out over the eastern seaboard of Visayas and Mindanao.

PAGASA expects the cyclone to be at 290 kilometers west of Surigao City by Thursday morning and at 95 kilometers west of Puerto Princesa by Friday morning. Queenie is expected to be at 705 kilometers northwest of Puerto Princesa by Saturday morning.