Tropical storm Agaton (International name: Megi) maintained its strength despite having made landfall over Guiuan, Eastern Samar, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Sunday, April 10.

In its latest bulletin, PAGASA said that the center of “Agaton” was last spotted over the coastal waters of Guiuan, Eastern Samar. It has maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph), gustiness up to 105 kph, and is moving westward slowly.

PAGASA likewise stated that the center of tropical storm Agaton made landfall in Calicoan Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 10.

Due to the impacts of the tropical storm, tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) no. 2 remained hoisted over the southern portion of eastern Samar, southern portion of Samar, the northeastern portion of southern Leyte, and the northern portion of Dinagat Islands.

Meanwhile, the state weather bureau warned that strong winds may prevail in the following areas where TCWS no. 1 is hoisted: the rest of eastern Samar, the rest of Samar, northern Samar, Biliran, the rest of Leyte, southern Leyte, northeastern portion of Cebu including Camotes Islands, Surigao del Norte, and the rest of Dinagat Islands.

Heavy rainfall, landslides

In the next 24 hours, heavy to at times heavy rainfall is expected over eastern Visayas and Dinagat Islands. Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rains with at times intense rains may be experienced in Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Bohol, and Cebu.

Moreover, light to moderate with at times heavy rains is expected over Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Catanduanes, Romblon, northern Mindanao, and the rest of Visayas and Caraga.

Residents of the areas where TCWS nos. 2 and 1 are hoisted were warned against the possible flash flood and landslides due to the intense rains that “Agaton” is expected to continuously bring.

“Posibleng ma-maintain ang tropical storm category within the next 24 hours, pero kapag nagsimula itong lumayo ng ating bansa ay we are not ruling out the possibility na posible itong humina at maging low pressure area (LPA) na lamang (It is possible that it will maintain the tropical storm category within the next 24 hours, but when it starts moving away from our country, we are not ruling out the possibility that it could weaken and become an LPA),” said PAGASA weather specialist Chris Perez.

LPA off Palawan

Perez, in a public weather forecast, said that another LPA was spotted 185 kilometers (km) south southwest of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. It remains less likely to develop into a tropical cyclone, but it is expected to affect the overall weather condition in Palawan.

'Malakas' slightly accelerates, maintains strength

The weather disturbance outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), Malakas, was located 1,570 km east of Mindanao with maximum sustained winds of 85 kph and gustiness of up to 105 kph.

“Wala pa itong direktang epekto sa anumang bahagi ng ating bansa (It has no direct effect to the country),” said Perez.

However, it is still expected to enter PAR by Monday evening (April 11) or Tuesday morning (April 12), added the weather specialist.

“Wala itong inaasahang landfall scenario muna sa Ganon pa man ay patuloy natin itong imo-monitor (There is no expected landfall scenario in this weather disturbance, but we will continue monitoring it),” he furthered.