Signal No. 3 on Masbate; No. 2 on Sorsogon, Albay and Burias; No. 1 on CamNorte, CamSur, Catanduanes as Typhoon Yolanda barrels through the islands

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Signal No. 3 on Masbate; No. 2 on Sorsogon, Albay and Burias; No. 1 on CamNorte, CamSur, Catanduanes as Typhoon Yolanda barrels through the islands

Signal 4 on Samar, Samar, Leyte, S. Leyte, Biliran; Signal 3 on N. Samar, Masbate, N. Cebu, Bantayan, Siargao, Dinagat, as Typhoon Yolanda barrels through the islands.

At least five provinces are now under public storm warning signal no. 4 as typhoon “Yolanda” maintained its strength and continues to threaten Eastern Visayas, the state weather bureau said Thursday afternoon.

In its 5 p.m. update, PAGASA said that as of 4 p.m. the eye of the typhoon Yolanda was located at 637 km East of Hinatuan, Surigao Del Sur or 738 km Southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar (8.9°N, 132.1°E) packed with maximum sustained winds of 215 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 250 kph.

PAGASA said that five provinces in Visayas, namely Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte and Biliran island are now under storm warning signal no.4; winds of more than 185 kph is expected within the next 12 hours.

Under Signal no. 4 expects winds may bring extensive damage to coconut plantation, houses and buildings, uproot many large trees and cut power lines.

Public storm warning signal no. 3 is hoisted over Northern Samar, Masbate, Northern Cebu, Cebu City and Bantayan island for Visayas while in Mindanao are Siargao island and Dinagat province that are expected to have winds of greater than 100 kph up to 185 kph in at least 18 hours.

The areas placed under public storm warning signal no. 2 (61-100 kph winds) for Luzon are — Romblon, Sorsogon, Albay and Burias island; in Visayas are Bohol, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Rest of Cebu, Iloilo and Guimaras; while in Mindanao are Camiguin, Surigao Del Norte, Surigao Del Sur and Agusan Del Norte.

Public storm warning signal no.1 (30-60 kph winds), on the other hand, was hoisted over in Luzon are Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Mindoro Provinces, Marinduque, Northern Palawan, Calamian Group of Island and Southern Quezon in Visayas Siquijor province only; while in Mindanao are Misamis Oriental and Agusan del Sur.

“Residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under signals 4, 3, 2 & 1 were alerted against possible flash floods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas under signals 3 and 2 were alerted against storm surges,” PAGASA said.

PAGASA added that rains are expected Thursday evening over Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Southern Luzon and. Bicol region due to cloud bands of typhoon Yolanda.

PAGASA Weather forecaster Connie Dadivas said that Yolanda continues to move west northwest and slightly accelerated from 30 kph to 33 kph.

Dadivas said with its movement and speed, Yolanda is expected to make landfall over Guiuan, Eastern Samar (9am to 10 am) Friday.

“Sa nagyon wala tayong nakikitang ibang weather system na makakaapekto o magpapabago ng direksiyon nito (Yolanda) sa kanyang galaw na west northwest,” she explained.

She noted that Yolanda, after hitting Guiuan or Abuyog, Leyte, is expected to traverse the provinces of Leyte, Biliran, Northern tip of Cebu, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Romblon, Semirara Island, Southern part of Mindoro then Busuanga and will exit the Philippine landmass (on Saturday early morning) towards the West Philippine Sea.

Dadivas said Yolanda may bring rainfall of 10.0 – 30.0 mm per hour (Heavy – Intense) within the 600 km diameter of the Typhoon.

She advised residents in the areas that may be affected to be prepared for flash floods and landslides.

Yolanda is expected to be over the sea at 64 km Southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar by Friday afternoon.

It is forecast to be at 122 km West of Coron, Palawan by Saturday afternoon and by Sunday afternoon it is forecast to be at 954 km West of Manila or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

It added that typhoon Yolanda expect to exit in Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Saturday evening headed towards Vietnam and Cambodia.

The weather agency said that sea travel is risky over the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon and over the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon. (PNA report by Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan)

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