Urduja slightly intensifies, moves slowly towards Samar island

Tropical Storm Urduja has slightly intensified as it continues to move slowly off the eastern coast of Samar Island, PAGASA reported in the Severe Weather Bulletin issued Friday morning.

By 4 a.m., the center of Urduja was estimated at 205 kilometers east of Borongan City, eastern Samar with maximum sustained winde of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

The Tropical Storm is still moving in the northwest direction at 5 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 2 is hoisted over northern Samar, eastern Samar, Samar, and Biliran.

Tropical Cyclone Warning signal No. 1 is up over Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Romblon, and Masbate including Burias and Ticao Islands, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Northern Cebu including Bantayan Island, Northern Bohol, Capiz, Aklan, and Northern Iloilo, Dinagat islands.

Urduja is expected to make landfall over northern Samar - eastern Samar area on Saturday morning or afternoon.

The estimated amount of rainfall within the 500-kilometer diameter of the Tropical Storm is from moderate to heavy.

Meanwhile, scattered to widespread rains will continue over Eastern Visayas and Caraga and is expected to prevail over Bicol Region and the rest of Visayas within 24 hours.

PAGASA warned that the residents in these areas must undertake appropriate measures against flooding and landslides and to coordinate with their respective local government and disaster risk reduction and management offices.

Sea travel remains risky over the eastern seaboards of Bicol Region and of Visayas due to the Tropical Storm. — BAP, GMA News