'Crising' accelerates, 19 areas under storm signal no.1

MANILA --Nineteen provinces in Mindanao were put under Signal No. 1 as tropical depression Crising further strengthened and continued to threaten Mindanao Tuesday morning.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) latest weather forecast said the following provinces were placed under Signal No. 1 (45-60 kph winds):Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Samal Island, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, southern part of Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, North Cotabato, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay.

It advised residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signals to be alert against possible flash floods and landslides.

Estimated rainfall amount within the 300-km diameter of the tropical depression is from five to 15 millimeters per hour, which is classified as “moderate to heavy.”

Weather Forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said that as of 4 a.m. Tuesday, Crising was spotted some 310 km east of General Santos City with maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and is forecast to move west northwest at 22 kph.

With this speed, Aurelio said Crising is expected to make a landfall by Tuesday afternoon in the southern tip of Davao Oriental then by evening in Davao del Sur, and on Wednesday morning, it will make a landfall in Zamboanga Peninsula.

After making landfall, Aurelio said they expect the cyclone to weaken.

He said Crising is expected to bring light to heavy rains in Eastern and Central Visayas and Mindanao, possibly triggering flooding and landslides.

Aurelio said Crising, due to its trough, will also affect and bring light to moderate rains in Bicol region and the rest of the Visayas.

He added that Crising is expected to be out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Friday morning.

Meanwhile, Aurelio said that the northeast monsoon continues to affect Luzon as partly cloudy skies with possible light rains in the afternoon or evening is expected over the rest of Luzon, including Metro Manila.

In its advisory, Pagasa said that Mindanao will experience rains and gusty winds while Eastern and Central Visayas will be cloudy with moderate to heavy rainshowers and thunderstorms which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.

Bicol Region and the rest of Visayas will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Cagayan Valley and the provinces of Aurora and Quezon will be cloudy with light rains.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the east to southeast will prevail over Northern Luzon and coming from the northeast to north over the rest of the country. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough.

Pagasa also warned owners of fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the eastern seaboards of the country and over the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon due to strong to gale force northeasterly surface windflow.

Last year, Typhoon Pablo claimed around 1,000 lives as it ripped the Davao region, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported.

Among the typhoon-hit provinces, Compostela Valley suffered the largest death toll with 506 followed by Davao Oriental with 391.

To avoid a repeat of such incident, Pagasa and NDRRMC advised public and the disaster coordinating councils affected by Crising to take appropriate actions. (PNA/Sunnex)