Signal No. 2 up over 4 areas as Agaton moves slowly after landfall

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 is in effect on Sunday afternoon over four areas after Tropical Storm Agaton made landfall in Eastern Samar, PAGASA said.

In its 2 p.m. bulletin posted on its website, state weather bureau PAGASA said the following areas are under TCWS No. 2:

• Central and southern portions of Eastern Samar (Can-Avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, Borongan City, Maydolong, Balangkayan, Llorente, Balangiga, Lawaan, Hernani, General Macarthur, Quinapondan, Giporlos, Salcedo, Mercedes, Guiuan);
• Central and southern portions of Samar (Catbalogan City, Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas, Hinabangan, Calbiga, San Sebastian, Villareal, Pinabacdao, Santa Rita, Basey, Talalora, Daram, Zumarraga, Marabut); and
• northeastern portion of Leyte (Babatngon, San Miguel, Barugo, Tunga, Alangalang, Tacloban City, Santa Fe, Pastrana, Palo, Tanauan, Tolosa, Dulag, Mayorga); and
• The northern portion of Dinagat Islands (Loreto, Tubajon).

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:

The southern portion of Masbate (Dimasalang, Palanas, Cataingan, Pio V. Corpuz, Esperanza, Placer, Cawayan);

• the rest of Eastern Samar;
• the rest of Samar;
• Northern Samar;
• Biliran;
• the rest of Leyte;
• Southern Leyte; 
• northern portion of Cebu (Borbon, Tabogon, San Remigio, Bogo City, Medellin, Daanbantayan, Bantayan Islands) including Camotes Islands
• Surigao del Norte and the rest of Dinagat Islands

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

Storm Agaton made landfall over Calicoan Island in Guiuan at 7:30 a.m.

As of 1 p.m., the center of Agaton was estimated at 10.9°N, 125.6°E over the coastal waters of Balangiga, Eastern Samar.

It has maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 105 km/h, and central pressure of 998 hPa.

PAGASA said Agaton was slowly moving westwards.

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

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

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

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 Nos. 2 and1 are hoisted.

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.

Stranded, canceled classes

Meanwhile, several passengers were left stranded on Sunday in Eastern Visayas ports due to delayed sea travels caused by Storm Agaton.

Interviewed in Super Radyo dzBB, Assistant Regional Director Office of Civil Defense Region 8 Rey Gozon said at least 120 passengers and 65 vehicles at Liloan Port Ferry Terminal bound for Mindanao were unable to leave.

Also, Gozon said 92 passengers and 59 vehicles were stranded at Port of San Ricardo.

Some classes for Monday, April 11, were also canceled due to the storm.

A total of 3,347 individuals have evacuated in Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon province due to rain-induced landslides, and flooding caused by Agaton, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Sunday. —Giselle Ombay/KG, GMA News