PAGASA says ‘Amang’ intensifies; will likely make landfall

Tropical Storm “Amang” (Satellite image from the Facebook page of DOST-PAGASA)

MANILA – The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that Tropical Storm “Amang” has intensified as it heads towards the Eastern Visayas region.

The state weather bureau reported in its 11 p.m. advisory Thursday night that Amang was last charted 665 kilometers east of Borongan, Eastern Samar.

Packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, and gusts of up to 90 kph, Amang is forecast to move west-northwest at 19 kph.

The weather agency has already raised public storm signal number 1 over Catanduanes and Northern Samar, and has likewise cautioned residents of Samar and Leyte to prepare for potential floods and landslides.

The entire Bicol region may also be placed under storm signal number 1 within the next 6 hours, the bureau added.

By Friday evening, the storm is forecast to be 340 km east northeast of Catarman, Northern Samar, moving 120 km East northeast of Daet, Camarines Norte come Saturday evening, and towards the Mt. Province region by Sunday evening