“Vinta” weakens into tropical depression; is now over Zamboanga del Sur

The latest track of “Vinta” /PAGASA/

(Eagle News) — “Vinta” has weakened into a tropical depression and is now over Zamboanga del Sur, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said on Friday.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the center of “Vinta” was in the vicinity of Sominot as of 4 p.m.

The tropical depression is packing maximum sustained winds of 60 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kilometers per hour.

It is forecast to move west at 20 kilometers per hour.

PAGASA said the Signal No. 2 hoisted over several areas—Southern Negros Occidental, Southern section of Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay, Western part of North Cotabato, and Northern part of Maguindanao–has been downgraded to Signal No. 1.

Tropical cyclone signal warnings hoisted over other areas have been lifted.

According to PAGASA, “scattered to widespread moderate to occasionally heavy rains will prevail over Visayas and Western Mindanao within 24 hours.”

It said residents of these areas “must (t)ake appropriate actions against flooding and landslides, coordinate with their respective local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring for updates.”

“Sea travel remains risky over the seaboards of areas under tropical cyclone warning signal,” PAGASA said.