Agaton makes landfall over Eastern Samar; Signal No. 2 up over 3 areas

Tropical Storm Agaton made landfall over Guiuan, Eastern Samar on Sunday morning, and Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 is still up over three areas, weather bureau PAGASA said.

The storm made landfall over Calicoan Island in Guiuan at 7:30 a.m.

At 7:30AM today (10April2022), TS AGATON has made landfall over Calicoan Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar. DOST-PAGASA/pcdm/smrr pic.twitter.com/EMtkxcope3

— PAGASA-DOST (@dost_pagasa) April 10, 2022

In its 8 a.m. bulletin, state weather bureau PAGASA said the following areas are under TCWS No. 2:

• southern portion of Eastern Samar (Guiuan, Mercedes, Salcedo, Quinapondan, Giporlos, Balangiga, Lawaan, General Macarthur, Hernani, Llorente, Balangkayan, Maydolong, Borongan City);
• southern portion of Samar (Marabut, Basey, Calbiga, Pinabacdao, Villareal, Santa Rita); and
• northeastern portion of Leyte (Babatngon, Tacloban City, Palo, Tanauan, Tolosa).

These areas have gale-force winds prevailing or may expect within the next 24 hours.

Winds may also result in minor to moderate threats to life and property, PAGASA said.

Meanwhile, TCWS No. 1 was hoisted over:

• rest of Eastern Samar;
• the rest of Samar;
• Northern Samar;
• Biliran;
• the rest of Leyte;
• Southern Leyte; and
• northeastern portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin, Bogo City, Tabogon, Borbon) including Camotes Islands.

There are strong winds prevailing or are expected in these areas within the next 36 hours. These winds may bring minimal to minor threats to life and property.

As of 7 a.m., the center of Agaton was estimated at 11.0°N, 125.9°E over the coastal waters of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

It has maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 105 km/h, and central pressure of 996 hPa.

PAGASA said Agaton's movement was west northwestward at 10 km/h.

It also has strong winds or higher extending outwards up to 220 km from the center.

The weather bureau said heavy to intense with at times torrential rains are expected over Eastern Visayas and Dinagat Islands.

Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains are expected over the Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Bohol, and Cebu.

Meanwhile, light to moderate with at times heavy rains are over Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Catanduanes, Romblon, Northern Mindanao, and the rest of Visayas and Caraga.

In the next 24 hours, rough to very rough seas (2.8 to 5.0 m) will prevail over the seaboards of areas where TCWS No. 2 and TCWS No. 1 are hoisted.

Since these conditions may be risky for most seacraft, PAGASA advised mariners of small seacraft to remain in port or take shelter, while those operating larger vessels are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions. 

Further, moderate to rough seas (1.2 to 3.4 m) will also prevail in the next 24 hours over the remaining seaboards of the country that are not under any wind signal or gale warning. —Giselle Ombay/KG, GMA News