Severe Tropical Storm Vinta crosses Davao Region

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MANILA, Philippines – Severe Tropical Storm Vinta (Tembin) was crossing the Davao Region before dawn on Friday, December 22, following its landfall in Cateel, Davao Oriental at 1:45 am. (READ: Nearly 16,000 evacuate as Vinta hits Davao Oriental)

As of 6 am, state weather bureau PAGASA said Vinta is already in the vicinity of Monkayo, Compostela Valley, still moving west at 20 kilometers per hour (km/h).

The severe tropical storm maintained its strength, with maximum winds of 90 km/h and gustiness of up to 125 km/h. (READ: EXPLAINER: How tropical cyclones form)

Signal number 2 remains raised in:

• Siquijor
• southern Negros Oriental
• Surigao del Norte including Siargao Island
• Surigao del Sur
• Agusan del Norte
• Agusan del Sur
• northern Davao Oriental
• Compostela Valley
• Davao del Norte
• Camiguin
• Bukidnon
• Misamis Oriental
• Misamis Occidental
• Lanao del Norte
• Lanao del Sur
• eastern Zamboanga del Norte
• eastern Zamboanga del Sur

Signal number 1, meanwhile, is up over:

• Southern Leyte
• southern part of Leyte
• southern part of Cebu
• Bohol
• northern Negros Oriental
• southern Negros Occidental
• Dinagat Islands
• southern Davao Oriental
• Davao del Sur
• North Cotabato
• Maguindanao
• western Zamboanga del Norte
• western Zamboanga del Sur
• Zamboanga Sibugay

PAGASA also warned that scattered to widespread rains will continue in the Visayas and Mindanao within the next 24 hours. Residents of these areas should be on alert for possible flash floods and landslides. (READ: What are the hazard-prone areas along Vinta’s path?)

Sea travel is also risky in areas under signal numbers 1 and 2. (READ: FAST FACTS: Tropical cyclones, rainfall advisories)

PAGASA earlier warned the public to take Vinta seriously, saying they should prepare and closely monitor updates.

The severe tropical storm is still expected to cross Caraga, Northern Mindanao, the Zamboanga Peninsula, and southern Palawan.

It will then leave PAR on Christmas Eve, December 24.

Eastern Visayas is still reeling from the damage wrought by Tropical Depression Urduja (Kai-tak), which battered the region as a tropical storm. National disaster management authorities said 45 people were killed and 46 others remain missing. Urduja left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) last Tuesday, December 19.

Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon will bring scattered rain to Luzon, but PAGASA said there will be “no significant impact.” – Rappler.com