#BasyangPH: Threats of heavy rains extend to Central Visayas

MANILA, Philippines – The state weather bureau has expanded the coverage of its yellow rainfall warning as Tropical Storm Basyang (Kajiki) made its landfall in Siargao Island on Friday evening, January 31.

In its 7pm bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said heavy rains are battering or are expected in the following areas:

• Southern part of Eastern Samar and Western Samar
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Biliran Island
• Cebu
• Bohol

PAGASA said flooding is possible in low-lying areas, while landslides may happen in mountainous areas.

On its website, PAGASA says a yellow rainfall advisory means “rainfall of 7.5 to 15 mm per hour has fallen or (is) expected to fall and most likely to continue for the next 3 hours.”

Before Basyang hit land, PAGASA already issued the rainfall warning over areas in Eastern Visayas, which was hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) last year.

Based on the latest weather bulletin, the center of the storm is identified to be in the vicinity of Siargao Island, with sustained winds of 85 k/h and gustiness of up to 100 k/h.

The storm’s landfall came at early Friday evening, earlier than PAGASA’s initial forecast of a landfall around midnight of Saturday, February 1, either in Southern Leyte or in the northern tip of Surigao del Norte. – Rappler.com