TROPICAL Storm Urduja (Kai-Tak) continues to put Eastern Visayas area in serious danger, as it remains quasi-stationary Friday afternoon, the state weather agency reported.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said scattered to widespread rains will continue over Eastern Visayas and Caraga regions and this weather condition is expected to prevail over Bicol and the rest of Visayas within 24 hours.
Estimated rainfall amount is from moderate to heavy within the 500-kilometer (km) diameter of Urduja, Pagasa said.
At 4 p.m. Friday, December 15, the center of the tropical storm was located at 240 km east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar.
Urduja has maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 90 kph.
Pagasa said Urduja was forecast to move northwest at 5 kph and was expected to make landfall over Northern Samar-Eastern Samar area on Saturday, December 16.
The state weather bureau has placed Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, and Biliran under Tropical Storm Warning Signal Number 2 (61-120 kph winds expected in 24 hours).
Signal number 1 (30-60 kph expected in 36 hours) was also hoisted over Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Romblon, Masbate including Burias and Ticao Islands, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Northern Cebu, Capiz, Aklan, Northern Iloilo and Dinagat Islands.
Pagasa warned residents in all affected areas to undertake appropriate measures against flooding and landslides and coordinate with their respective local government and disaster risk reduction and management offices.
Sea travel remains risky over the eastern seaboards of Bicol and of Visayas due to the approaching tropical storm. (DDA/SunStar Philippines)