‘Amang’ decelerates; 12 areas in Luzon, Visayas remain under Signal No. 1

MANILA — Twelve areas in Luzon and the Visayas remain under Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1 even as tropical storm “Amang” slowed down while continuing to move westward toward Eastern Visayas and is expected to make landfall in Northern Samar, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Friday.

In its 11 a.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA said that as of 10 a.m. Friday, storm “Amang” was located at 560 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar (11.5°N, 130.5°E), packed with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

The agency said storm “Amang” continues to move westward but decelerated from 19 kph on Friday morning to 15 kph before noon.

With its current speed and movement, the storm is expected to hit Northern Samar on Saturday evening.

TS “Amang” is forecast to be at 180 km east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar by Saturday morning. It is expected to to be at 40 km northeast of Legazpi City, Albay by Sunday morning and at the vicinity of Baler, Aurora by Monday morning.

Meanwhile, the areas under PSWS No. 1 (winds of 30-60 kph is expected in at least 36 hrs) are Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Burias Island, Sorsogon, Masbate, Ticao Island, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran and Leyte.

Residents in low-lying and mountainous areas of the provinces with PSWS#1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Ocean waves may reach up to 6.5 meters.

The estimated rainfall amount is from 7.5 to 20 millimeters per hour (heavy to intense) within the 300-km diameter of the storm.

Fisherfolks and those with small seacrafts are advised not to venture out over the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon and the Eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

PAGASA also said that in the next six hours, there is a possibility of raising PSWS#1 over Camarines Norte, Marinduque and southern Quezon.