Agaton weakens into tropical depression but Signal No. 1 remains over 11 areas

Tropical Storm Agaton (international name: Megi) has weakened into a tropical depression but Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 remains hoisted over 11 areas in the country, PAGASA said on Monday morning.

In its 8 a.m. bulletin, state weather bureau PAGASA said the following areas are under TCWS No. 1:

• the southern portion of Masbate (Dimasalang, Palanas, Cataingan, Pio V. Corpuz, Esperanza, Placer, Cawayan);
• Eastern Samar;
• Samar;
• Northern Samar;
• Biliran;
• Leyte;
• Southern Leyte;
• the northeastern portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, San Remigio, Medellin, City of Bogo, Tabogon, Borbon, Sogod, Catmon, Carmen, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan) including Camotes Island; and
• the eastern portion of Bohol (Getafe, Talibon, Bien Unido, Trinidad, Ubay, San Miguel, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Mabini);
• Surigao del Norte; and
• Dinagat Islands.

These areas have strong winds prevailing or are expected within the next 36 hours. Winds may also result in minimal to minor threat to life and property, PAGASA said.

As of 7 a.m., the center of Agaton was estimated at 11.1°N, 125.1°E over the coastal waters of Tanauan, Leyte.

It has maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 75 km/h, and central pressure of 1000 hPa.

PAGASA said Agaton was slowly moving north northwestwards.

It also has strong winds or higher that extend outwards up to 150 km from the center.

Rainfall

Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains will be experienced over Eastern Visayas, Masbate, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, and the northern and central portions of Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains meanwhile are expected over Dinagat Islands, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Quezon, and the rest of Bicol Region and Visayas.

On Tuesday, Sorsogon, Masbate, Eastern Visayas may have light to moderate with at times heavy rains. Dinagat Islands, Romblon, and the rest of Visayas meanwhile will have moderate to heavy with at times intense rains.

PAGASA said scattered to widespread flooding (including flooding) and rain-induced landslides may result in areas prone to these hazards.

Coastal waters

The seas will be rough to very rough (2.8 to 4.5 m) in the next 24 hours over the seaboards of areas under TCWS No. 1. Sea travel may be risky for most seacraft.

As for areas in the rest of the country that are not under any TCWS, coastal waters will be moderate to rough (1.2 to 3.4 m), which may be risky for small seacraft.

Track, intensity

Today through tomorrow afternoon, “AGATON” is forecast to slowly loop in the vicinity of northeastern portion of Leyte and the southern portions of Samar and Eastern Samar before emerging over the Philippine Sea by tomorrow evening as another tropical cyclone with international name “MALAKAS” begins to interact with it.

PAGASA said Agaton is forecast to further weaken “due to the frictional effects of land on its circulation.”

Agaton is also seen to slowly loop in the vicinity of the northeastern portion of Leyte and the southern portions of Samar and Eastern Samar before emerging over the Philippine Sea by Tuesday evening as it interacts with another tropical cyclone with international name Malakas.

Malakas is still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility as of Monday but will be renamed Basyang when it enters PAR.

“Any significant intensification will likely be inhibited by the binary interaction of ‘AGATON’ and ‘MALAKAS.’ Further weakening into a remnant low is likely by Wednesday evening as ‘AGATON’ becomes assimilated within the circulation of ‘MALAKAS,” it added. 

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

Effects

Three individuals died in Negros Oriental due to Agaton, local authorities said, while several areas in the Visayas and Mindanao experienced flooding due to the rains brought by the storm.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) however on Monday said reports of one person dead and one missing in Region 11 are still for validation. It however confirmed that two were injured in Region 10 due to Agaton.

The NDRRMC also said that 136,390 people or 86,515 families were affected by Agaton in 201 barangays in Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and Bangsamoro.

Close to 2,000 passengers were stranded in various ports on Monday morning due to Agaton, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.

Classes for Monday, April 11, were canceled in some areas. —Giselle Ombay/KG, GMA News