TROPICAL depression "Samuel" has maintained its strength while moving west northwest of the country and may intensify into a tropical storm before making landfall over the Eastern Visayas-Caraga area Tuesday evening, said the weather state bureau.
As of 11 p.m. Monday, November 19, the center of Samuel was located at 410 kilometers east northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, packing maximum winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 65 kph.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) forecast Samuel to move west northwest at 20 kph.
It is said the tropical depression will bring moderate to heavy rains. This may trigger flooding and landslides which is expected in Caraga Region, Northern Mindanao, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, and the provinces of Negros Occidental, Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.
Pagasa said Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) #1 will possibly be raised over Romblon and Cuyo Island.
However, the TCWS #1 has already been hoisted over Masbate including Ticao Island in Luzon; Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Iloilo and Guimaras in Visayas.
The TCWS #1 has also been raised in the following areas in Mindanao: Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Misamis Oriental, and Camiguin.
Pagasa advised fisherfolk and those with small seacraft not to venture out over the areas under TCWS #1 and the eastern and southern seaboards of Mindanao. (SunStar Philippines)