Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 17) — The state weather bureau raised Signal No. 2 over some areas in Mindanao as Kabayan intensified into a tropical storm on Sunday night.
In its 11 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Kabayan was last located 275 kilometers (kms) east of Davao City with maximum sustained winds of 65 kms per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
Signal No. 2 was hoisted over the following areas in Mindanao: Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands, Surigao del Sur, the northern portion of Agusan del Norte, the eastern portion of Agusan del Sur, and the northern portion of Davao Oriental.
Areas in the Visayas under Signal No. 1 include Southern Leyte, Leyte, the southern portion of Samar, the southern portion of Eastern Samar, Cebu including Camotes and Bantayan Islands, Bohol, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, and Negros Occidental.
In Mindanao, areas under signal No. 1 include Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, the central portion of Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao City, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, the northern portion of Maguindanao del Norte, the northern portion of Cotabato, the northern portion of Zamboanga del Sur, and the northeastern portion of Zamboanga del Norte.
PAGASA said the shear line coinciding with the tropical cyclone may also bring heavy rainfall over the eastern portion of Southern Luzon today and over the eastern portion of Luzon tomorrow.
Kabayan is moving at 15 kph west northwestward, PAGASA said. It will likely make landfall along the coast of Surigao del Sur or Davao Oriental on Sunday night or early Monday morning.
In a briefing, the bureau warned that areas near rock formations in Surigao del Sur may be susceptible to landslides, especially after back-to-back magnitude 7 earthquakes that hit the region.
\”Pinapayuhan natin ang ating mga kababayan, maging sa mga tinatawag natin na debris flow, ‘yung mga malalaking bitak na bato na maaaring dumausdos dahil sa malakas na pag-ulan,\” PAGASA Assistant Weather Service Chief Chris Perez said.
[Translation: We are advising our countrymen…even on what we call debris flow, those large fragments of rocks that can slide down due to heavy rains.]
The state weather bureau said it is likely to maintain its strength until its initial landfall over Mindanao. Once it does, it may be downgraded into a tropical depression. It will then continue to move west and will make landfall in central or southern Palawan by Tuesday.
