MANILA, Philippines - More areas were placed under storm alert after Tropical Cyclone "Seniang" intensified into a storm and hit land on Monday, state weather bureau PAGASA said.
In its latest bulletin, PAGASA said "Seniang" was last located within the vicinity of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 80 kph.
Seniang, which was forecast to move west northwest at 11 kph, made landfall over Barangay Bakulin in Hinatuan at 3:45 a.m.
PAGASA said the storm will exit the landmass of Agusan del Norte by noon and then traverse Bohol sea.
Public storm warning signals have been hoisted over 23 areas in the Visayas and Mindanao, where moderate to occasionally heavy and intense rains are being experienced:
Signal No. 2
Bohol
Siquijor
Surigao del Sur
Surigao del Norte
Siargao Island
Agusan del Norte
Agusan del Sur
Misamis Oriental
Camiguin
Signal No. 1
Leyte
Southern Leyte
Camotes Island
Cebu
Negros Oriental
Negros Occidental
Dinagat Province
Compostela Valley
Northern part of Davao Oriental
Davao del Norte
Bukidnon
Lanao del Norte
Misamis Occidental
Zamboanga del Norte
At 8:30 a.m., PAGASA issued a heavy rainfall warning for Central and Eastern Visayas, where flooding and landslides are possible in low lying and mountainous areas.
PAGASA said heavy to intense rainfall was estimated within the 300-kilometer diameter of the tropical storm.
Residents in low lying and mountainous areas of the provinces with storm signals, particularly the Caraga Region as well as Eastern Visayas and the rest of Mindanao, were alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.
Ocean waves may reach up to five meters due to Seniang, PAGASA also warned.
The agency advised fisherfolks and those with small seacrafts not to venture out into the eastern seaboards of Luzon and the seaboard of Visayas and the northern and eastern seaboards of Mindanao.