TROPICAL Storm Basyang (Sanba) has slightly accelerated while moving closer toward Eastern Mindanao, said the state weather bureau Monday afternoon, February 12.
As of 4 p.m. Monday, the tropical storm was located at 435 kilometers east southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, packing maximum winds of 65 kilometer per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 80 kph.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Basyang was forecast to move west northwest at 23 kph.
Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) Number 2 was hoisted over the provinces of Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, and Agusan del Sur in Mindanao.
TCWS Number 1 was raised over the southern portion of Samar, southern portion of Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Siquijor, Guimaras, and Iloilo in Visayas, and Dinagat Islands, Camiguin, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Bukidnon, northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte, and northern portion of Zamboanga del Sur in Mindanao.
Pagasa said Basyang is expected to bring scattered to widespread moderate to heavy rains over Visayas, Caraga, Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula and the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.
"Residents of these areas must continue monitoring for updates, take precautionary measures against possible flooding and landslides, and coordinate with their respective local disaster risk reduction and management offices," said the weather bureau.
Pagasa also announced that TCWS Number 1 might also be raised over Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Zamboanga Sibugay and the rest of Zamboanga del Norte and of Zamboanga del Sur in the next bulletin.
It added that Basyang is expected to make landfall in Caraga Region Tuesday morning or afternoon (February 13).
"Sea travel remains risky over the seaboards of areas under TCWS, the seaboard of Northern Luzon, and the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon and Eastern Visayas due to the approaching tropical storm and the surge of the Northeast Monsoon," Pagasa warned. (SunStar Philippines)