Basyang: Signal No. 1 over Haiyan, Agaton-hit areas

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical depression Basyang has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), according to state weather bureau PAGASA’s latest bulletin released 11pm Thursday, January 30.

More areas were placed under storm signal warning no. 1, most of them the same areas devastated by a slew of natural calamities – the October 2013 earthquake in Bohol, Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), and Tropical Depression Agaton.

Rainfall from Basyang is estimated to be moderate to heavy, at 5-15 millimeters per hour within its 300 kilometer diameter.

Basyang will make landfall over Surigao provinces late Friday evening, January 31 or early Saturday morning, February 1.

Signal no. 1 (winds of 30-60 km/h expected within the next 36 hours)

• Southern part of Leyte
• Southern Leyte 
• Bohol 
• Surigao del Norte including Siargao Is.
• Surigao del Sur
• Northern part of Agusan del Sur
• Agusan del Norte
• Camiguin Island
• Dinagat Province 
• Misamis Oriental

As of 10:00 pm Thursday, the center of Basyang was found 969 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. The tropical depression is forecast to move west at 30 km/h, with maximum winds of 55 km/h near the center.

Basyang is the second storm to enter the country this year. It is forecast to be 303 km northeast of Hinatuan by Friday evening and 325 km east northeast of Puerto Princesa City by Saturday evening.

By Sunday, February 2, Basyang is expected to exit the PAR, 505 km northwest of Puerto Princesa City.

Residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under signal number one should watch out for possible flash floods and landslides, according to PAGASA. Fishing boards and small seacraft should not venture out into the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon and Visayas because of the effects of Basyang and the Northeast Monsoon.

PAGASA will next issue a bulletin at 5am Friday, January 31. – Rappler.com