Signal no. 1 raised in 8 provinces

MANILA, Philippines - Eight provinces were put under public storm warning signal no. 1 as tropical depression Agaton continues to move slowly toward Surigao.

The provinces include Southern Leyte, Surigao del Norte including Siargao Island, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat province, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.

In its report, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) identified the center of the storm 145 kilometers east of Surigao City as of 4 a.m. on Saturday. It is forecast to move west at 5 km per hour.

PAGASA said estimated rainfall amount is from 5 to 15 millimeter (moderate-heavy) within the 300 km diameter of the tropical depression.

Caraga region and the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Compostella Valley and Southern Leyte will have rains with gusty winds with moderate to rough seas. Central and the rest of Eaatern Visayas will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occassionally heavy rains and thunderstorms which may trigger flashfloods and landslide, the weather bureau said.

Meanwhile, Bicol, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula and Davao del Sur will be cloudy with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms.

PAGASA said Palawan and the rest of Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms while Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will be cloudy with light rains.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and coming from the northeast to northwest over Mindanao. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough, the weather bureau added.