Amang makes landfall in Catanduanes town, Signal No. 1 up over 18 areas

Storm Signal No. 1 has been hoisted over 17 areas in Luzon and one in the Visayas after Tropical Depression Amang made landfall in the vicinity of Panganiban, Catanduanes.

According to the severe weather bulletin PAGASA issued at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Amang was last spotted at 10 p.m. in Panganiban.

It is moving westward at 15 kilometers per hour while packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center, gustiness of up to 60 kph, and a central pressure of 1006 hPa.

PAGASA said the following areas are under Storm Signal Number 1:

Luzon

1. Catanduanes
2. Sorsogon
3. Albay
4. Camarines Sur
5. Camarines Norte
6. Quezon including Pollilo Islands
7. Marinduque
8. Ticao Island
9. Burias Island
10. Rizal
11. Laguna (San Pablo City, Alaminos, Calauan, Bay, Los Baños, Rizal, Nagcarlan, Victoria, Pila, Liliw, Magdalena, Majayjay, Luisiana, Cavinti, Pagsanjan, Santa Cruz, Lumban, Kalayaan, Paete, Pakil, Pangil, Siniloan, Famy, Santa Maria, Mabitac)
12. Aurora
13. Bulacan (Norzagaray, Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Miguel, San Ildefonso)
14. Quirino
15. Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Dupax del Norte, Dupax del Sur, Alfonso Castaneda)
16. Nueva Ecija (General Tinio, City of Gapan, Peñaranda, San Leonardo, Santa Rosa, Cabanatuan City, Talavera, San Jose City, Carranglan, Pantabangan, Llanera, General Mamerto Natividad, Rizal, Bongabon, Laur, Palayan City, Gabaldon)
17. Isabela (Echague, San Agustin, Jones, Dinapigue, San Mariano, San Guillermo, Palanan, Angadanan, Benito Soliven, City of Cauayan)

Visayas

1. Northern Samar

According to PAGASA, heavy rainfall (50-100 mm) is expected over the Bicol Region, the northern and southeastern portions of Quezon, and the eastern portions of Rizal and Laguna due to the tropical cyclone.

“Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and in localities that experienced considerable amounts of rainfall for the past several days,” it said.

A marine gale warning is likewise in effect over Catanduanes, the eastern coasts of Albay and Sorsogon, and the northern and eastern coasts of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar.

“In the next 24 hours, moderate to rough seas (1.2 to 2.8 m) over the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Eastern Visayas that are not under any gale warning. Mariners of small seacrafts are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions,” the agency added.

Amang is expected to remain a tropical depression for much of the forecast period. It is likely to weaken into a low-pressure area by late Thursday due to increasing vertical wind shear, intrusion of dry air, and interaction with the rugged landmass of eastern Luzon.

It is also seen to continue tracking generally westward or west-northwestward in the next 12 to 24 hours, which bring its center over the coastal municipalities of Camarines Provinces before turning more northwestward towards the waters east of Quezon, with the possibility of passing near or over the Polillo Islands.

A landfall over Aurora may take place on Thursday afternoon or evening. —NB, GMA Integrated News