Basyang now over West PH Sea; 3 areas under Signal No. 1

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MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Depression Basyang (international codename Kajiki) has maintained its strength as it hovers over the West Philippine Sea on Saturday afternoon, February 1.

As of 4 pm, state weather bureau PAGASA said that Basyang was located at 88 kms southwest of Coron, Palawan, with maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h near the center. It is seen moving westward at 30 km/h.

Public storm warning signal number 1 still remains in 3 areas:

• northern Palawan, including Calamian Group of Islands
• Occidental Mindoro
• Oriental Mindoro

Storm warning signals elsewhere have been lowered.

Basyang forced the evacuation of 18,000 people in affected areas. 

PAGASA forecasts that Basyang would be outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Sunday afternoon, when it is at 764 kms west of Coron.

Basyang is estimated to bring moderate to heavy rainfall (5 to 10 mm per hour) within its 300-km diameter.

Residents in areas under signal number 1 are warned against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Meanwhile, due to the prevailing northeast monsoon, fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture into the eastern seabord of Luzon and southern seaboard of south Luzon.

PAGASA will issue its next weather bulletin on Basyang at 11 pm on Saturday. – Rappler.com