'Urduja' makes landfall in Eastern Samar

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical storm Urduja on Saturday afternoon has made landfall in San Policarpio, Eastern Samar.

In its 2 p.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration tracked the center of Urduja in the vicinity of San Policarpio as of 1:00 p.m.

The tropical storm is also packing maximum sustained winds of 80 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 110 kph.

A total of 11,100 passengers were stranded in some of the country’s ports amid risks posed by sea travel due to Urduja, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.

The state weather bureau warned residents at Bicol Region and Visayas to brace for “scattered to widespread moderate to heavy rains,” which can also be felt over Southern Quezon, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Mindoro Provinces, Marinduque and Romblon.

“Residents of these areas must undertake appropriate measures against flooding and landslides and coordinate with their local disaster risk reduction and management offices,” PAGASA said.

“Sea travel remains risky over the seaboards of areas under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal,” it added.

Tropical cyclone warning signal no. 2 has been raised over Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate (including Burias and Ticao islands) and Romblon. The same weather warning was also issued over Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Aklan, Capiz and Northen Iloilo.

Meanwhile, Southern Quezon, Mindoro, Marinduque, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Cuyo Islands, and Calamian Group of Islands have been placed under storm signal no. 1.

Antique, the rest of Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Northern Negros Oriental, Cebu, Northern Bohol and Southern Leyte were also under signal no. 1.

READ: Urduja slightly accelerates, to make landfall Saturday afternoon | Domestic flights canceled due to ‘Urduja’