Signal No. 1 still up in 9 areas due to slow-moving 'Agaton'
MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remained hoisted over parts of the country as tropical depression Agaton lingered in Eastern Visayas, forecasters said Tuesday morning.
In its 8 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Agaton was located in the vicinity of Marabut, Samar packing peak winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 75 kph. It is heading east slowly.
The state weather bureau placed the following areas under TCWS No. 1:
- Southern portion of Masbate (Dimasalang, Cawayan, Palanas, Placer, Cataingan, Esperanza, Pio V. Corpuz)
- Eastern Samar
- Samar
- Northern Samar
- Biliran
- Leyte
- Southern Leyte
- Northeastern portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin, City of Bogo, Tabogon, Borbon, Sogod) including Camotes Island
- Dinagat Islands
Strong winds will be experienced in areas under TCWS No. 1. PAGASA, however, noted that Agaton's winds have “minimal to minor threat to life and property.”
In the next 24 hours, rough seas (2.8 to 4 meters) will prevail over the seaboards of areas under TCWS No. 1. “These conditions may be risky for most seacrafts,” forecasters warned.
Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains will be experienced in the following areas:
- Eastern Visayas
- Bicol region
- Northern and central portions of Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands
- Aklan
- Capiz
- Iloilo
- Antique
- Guimaras
- Northern and central portions of Negros Provinces
Meanwhile, light to moderate with at times heavy rains will affect the following areas:
- MIMAROPA
- Dinagat Islands
- Zamboanga del Norte
- Quezon province
- Rest of Visayas
According to PAGASA, the slow-moving cyclone is expected to continue meandering in the vicinity of Samar-Leyte area within the next six to 12 hours before moving toward the Philippine Sea by Tuesday evening 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 the next 24 hours,” forecasters said, adding the remnant of Agaton will be assimilated within the circulation of Malakas.
Twenty fatalities and six injuries have been reported during the onslaught of the year’s first tropical cyclone, but these figures have yet to be validated, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.
STS Malakas
The severe tropical storm with international name Malakas was last spotted 1,235 km east of Southern Luzon, with peak winds of 110 kph near the center and gusts of up to 135 kph. It is moving north northwest at 15 kph.
PAGASA said that due to a slight eastward shift in the cyclone’s track, the likelihood of it entering PAR has decreased. In the event Malakas enters the country’s jurisdiction, it will be named Basyang and its stay will be brief.
Forecasters said that Malakas is not expected to have direct effect on the country, but the swells triggered by the cyclone may generate moderate to rough seas over the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon, and eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao.
Forecast track of Agaton
- Tuesday afternoon: Over the coastal waters of Guiuan, Eastern Samar
- Wednesday morning: 140 km east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar
— Gaea Katreena Cabico
Tropical Depression Agaton (international name Megi) is the first tropical cyclone to enter the Philippines in 2022. Bookmark this page for updates. — Main photo: JMA
Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a message of condolence to President Rodrigo Duterte over the aftermath of tropical cyclone Agaton (international name Megi).
On behalf of the Chinese government, Xi expressed deep condolences to the victims of the typhoon, the Chinese Embassy says.
"Xi Jinping said, he was shocked to learn that the Philippines was hit by the typhoon, which has caused heavy casualties and property losses," the embassy says.
Xi Jinping Sends Message of Condolence to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte over Typhoon Disaster in the Philippines pic.twitter.com/5rTrPfWEEN
— ChineseEmbassyManila (@Chinaembmanila) April 19, 2022
Pope Francis expresses solidarity with all those suffering in the wake of cyclone Agaton (international name Megi).
In a letter addressed to CBCP President Pablo Virgilio David conveyed through Apostolic Nuncio Charles Brown, Vatican's Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin says the Pope "willingly invokes upon all the Filipino people God's blessings of strength and peace."
"He also offers the assurance of prayers for the dead, injured, and displaced as well as those engaged in recovery efforts," Cardinal Parolin says.
The death toll from landslides and flooding in the Philippines triggered by tropical storm Megi (locally named Agaton) hit 115 on Thursday, official figures show, as more bodies were found in mud-caked villages.
Scores of people are still missing and feared dead after the strongest storm to hit the archipelago nation this year dumped heavy rain over several days, forcing tens of thousands into evacuation centres. — AFP
The death toll from landslides and floods in the Philippines rises to 58 on Wednesday, official tallies show, as rescuers dug up more bodies with their bare hands in villages crushed by rain-induced avalanches of mud and earth.
Most of the deaths from tropical storm Agaton (international name Megi) — the strongest to hit the disaster-prone archipelago this year — were in the central province of Leyte where a series of landslides has devastated communities.
At least 47 people died and 27 were missing after waves of sodden soil smashed into farming settlements over the weekend, local authorities said. Just over 100 people were injured. — AFP
The death toll from "Agaton" has reached 43, NDRRMC says.
The council also reports seven missing persons and eight injured individuals as of April 13.
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