'Agaton' keeps strength, more areas placed under Signal No. 2

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 10) — More areas in the Visayas were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 as tropical storm Agaton maintains its strength, the state weather bureau said on Sunday.

Based on its latest bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the weather system was last spotted over the coastal waters of Lawaan, Eastern Samar.

The storm maintained maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 105 kph. It was moving slowly westward.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 is hoisted over the following areas:

- Central and southern portion of Eastern Samar (Dolores, Maslog, Can-Avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, Borongan City, Maydolong, Balangkayan, Llorente, General MacArthur, Hernani, Balangiga, Lawaan, Quinapondan, Giporlos, Salcedo, Mercedes, Guiuan)

- Central and southern portion of Samar (San Jose de Buan, San Jorge, Tarangnan, Catbalogan City, Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas, Hinabangan, Calbiga, Pinabacdao, Villareal, Daram, Zumarraga, Talalora, Santa Rita, Basey, Marabut, San Sebastian)

- Biliran

- Northern and central portions of Leyte (Leyte, Capoocan, Carigara, Barugo, San Miguel, Babatngon, Tacloban City, Alangalang, Tunga, Jaro, Kananga, Ormoc City, Santa Fe, Palo, Pastrana, Dagami, Tanauan, Tabontabon, Tolosa, Dulag, Mayorga, MacArthur, Abuyog, Mahaplag, Javier, La Paz, Julita, Burauen, Calubian, San Isidro, Tabango, Villaba, Matag-Ob, Palompon, Isabel, Merida, Albuera, Baybay City)

- Northern portion of Dinagat Islands (Loreto and Tubajon)

Meanwhile, the following areas are under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1:

- The rest of Eastern Samar, the rest of Samar, Northern Samar, the rest of Leyte, Southern Leyte and the northeastern portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin, Bantayan Islands, Bogo City, San Remigio, Tabogon, Borbon, Tabuelan, Sogod, Catmon, Carmen, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan, Tuburan, Asturias)

- Camotes Islands

- Eastern portion of Bohol (Buenavista, Danao, Dagohoy, Pilar, Guindulman, Candijay, Mabini, Alicia, Ubay, San Miguel, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Trinidad, Bien Unido, Talibon, Jetafe)

- Surigao del Norte and the rest of Dinagat Islands

Agaton made landfall on Calicoan Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar at 7:30 a.m.

PAGASA said moderate to heavy with at times intense rains are expected today over Masbate, Sorsogon, Eastern Visayas, Cebu, Bohol, and Dinagat Islands. Light to moderate with at times heavy rains may be experienced over Albay, Catanduanes, Romblon, Surigao del Norte, and the rest of the Visayas.

The state weather bureau also said Agaton would likely remain a tropical storm for most of the forecast period. It may degenerate into a remnant low by late Tuesday or early Wednesday as tropical storm Malakas (international name) begins to circulate.

PAGASA said Malakas was last spotted 1,570 kms east of Mindanao at 10 a.m. It may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility by late Monday or early Tuesday.