(Eagle News) — Tropical Storm “Urduja” continued to move westward on Thursday night, bringing rains over Eastern Samar.
In its 8 p.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said as of 7 p.m., the center of “Urduja” was estimated at 85 kilometers east southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.
The tropical storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kilometers per hour, as it prepares to make landfall over Eastern Samar on Friday morning.
PAGASA said rainfall amount within the 400-kilometer diameter of the tropical storm is from moderate to heavy.
Signal No. 2 has been hoisted over Northen Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar and Biliran, while Signal No. 1 was up over Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate including Burias and Ticao Islands, and Romblon Leyte, Southern Leyte, Northern Cebu including Bantayan Island, Capiz, Aklan, and Northern Iloilo Dinagat Islands.
Scattered to widespread rains are expected over Visayas and the regions of Bicol, Caraga and Northern Mindanao within 24 hours, PAGASA said.
According to the weather bureau, residents in these areas should remain alert for possible flashfloods and landslides.
“Fisherfolk and those with small seacraft are advised not to venture out over the eastern seaboard of Bicol Region and in the seaboards of Visayas due to rough to very rough seas associated with the approaching tropical storm,” PAGASA said.