26 areas in Visayas, Mindanao placed under storm signal No. 1

TWENTY-SIX areas in the Visayas and Mindanao were placed under storm signal number No. 1 yesterday after a low pressure area intensified into a tropical depression and given the name “Kabayan.”

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Kabayan was forecast to make landfall in Surigao del Sur or Davao Oriental Sunday night or Monday morning.

PAGASA weather specialist Patrick Del Mundo said Kabayan, the country’s 11th tropical cyclone for the year, developed into a tropical depression from low pressure area at 2 a.m. yesterday.

As of 4 a.m. yesterday, Kabayan was some 385 km east of Davao City or 315 km east southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, PAGASA said in a bulletin.

It was packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph. It is moving westward slowly, PAGASA also said.

Seventeen of the 26 areas under Signal No. 1 are in Mindanao. These are Dinagat Islands; Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, northern portion of Davao Oriental, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Bukidnon, Agusan del Sur, Davao de Oro, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, northern and central portion of Davao del Norte, Davao City, northern portion of Cotabato, and the northern portion of Maguindanao.

Nine areas in Visayas were under Signal No. 1. These are Southern Leyte, Leyte, southern portion of Samar, southern portion of Eastern Samar, Samar, Cebu including Camotes Islands, Bantayan Islands, Bohol, and Siquijor.

PAGASA said Kabayan will make landfall likely along the coast of Surigao del Sur or Davao Oriental. It will then cross the rugged terrain of Mindanao and emerge in Bohol Sea or Sulu Sea this morning or afternoon.

“Due to frictional effects associated with landfall, Kabayan is forecast to weaken over land and the possibility of being downgraded into a low pressure area while over land or after emerging over the sea is not ruled out (although in such a case, re-development may still occur over the Sulu Sea),” PAGASA said.

Kabayan is expected to move across Sulu Sea, south of Cuyo Islands later today and early morning tomorrow.

“The tropical cyclone is forecast to