The center of tropical depression Agaton (international name: Megi) has made landfall over Basey, Samar, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Monday, April 11.

Cops rescue residents from a flooded area in Lemery town, Iloilo province on Monday, April 11. (Jerome Marapo/ Tara Yap / Manila Bulletin)

The state weather bureau said that “Agaton” made landfall over Basey, Samar around 4 p.m. on Monday, April 11. It was last spotted in the vicinity of Basey, Samar with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, gustiness of up to 60 kph, and it remained almost stationary.

Due to the impacts of tropical depression Agaton, tropical cyclone wind signal (TVWS) no. 1 is still raised in the southern portion of Masbate, eastern Samar, Samar, northern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, the northeastern portion of Cebu including Camotes Island, the eastern portion of Bohol, Surigao del Norte, and Dinagat Islands.

“Strong winds within the next 24 hours,” said PAGASA.

Meanwhile, in terms of its track and intensity, PAGASA said that “Agaton” is forecast to remain a tropical depression.

“Any significant intensification will likely be inhibited by the binary interaction of “Agaton” and “Malakas,” said the state weather bureau.

Meanwhile, the severe tropical storm outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) which has the international name “Malakas” is forecast to enter PAR within 24 or 48 hours. It is likewise expected to interact with “Agaton,” PAGASA warned.

Once it enters PAR, it will be given the local name “Basyang.”

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‘Agaton’ makes landfall over Basey, Samar, remains ‘almost’ stationary

LPA intensifies into tropical depression 'Jolina'; Signal No. 1 up over parts of eastern VisMin -- PAGASA