MANILA (Updated) -- Eighteen provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao are now under storm signal number 1, as Tropical Depression Basyang continues to move toward Leyte-Caraga area, the state weather bureau said Friday.
As of 4 a.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Basyang, which entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) late Thursday, was estimated at 768 kilometers (km) east northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.
Basyang was packing maximum winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and forecast to move west at 30 kph.
"Tropical Depression Basyang is expected to make landfall over Surigao Provinces on Friday evening or Saturday morning and expected to be outside the PAR on Monday," Pagasa said.
Storm signal number 1 were raised over southern Samar, southern Eastern Samar, Leyte, Biliran, Southern Leyte, Camotes Island, Cebu, Negros Provinces, Siquijor Island and Bohol in Visayas region, and Surigao del Norte, Siargao Island, Surigao del Sur, north of Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Camiguin Island, Dinagat Province, and Misamis Oriental in Mindanao.
Pagasa warned residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas to be alert against possible flashfloods and landslides.
Bicol Region, Palawan and the rest of Visayas and Mindanao will be cloudy with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms while the Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon may continue to enjoy the cold weather with cloudy skies and isolated light rains.
Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and coming from the northeast to northwest over Mindanao, and the coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough.
"Fishing boats and other small sea crafts are advised not to venture out into the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon and Visayas due to Tropical Depression Basyang and the Northeast Monsoon," Pagasa said.
Bad weather brought by Basyang has caused the cancellation of a Manila-bound flight from Surigao Thursday evening, the Department of Transportation and Communication reported. (Sunnex)