MANILA, Philippines (Updated 12:36 p.m.) — PAGASA on Sunday said Tropical Depression Quinta has intensified as a severe tropical storm as it moves closer to the Catanduanes-Albay-Sorsogon area.
The weather bureau in its latest bulletin said Quinta, the 17th storm to hit the country, was seen at 180 km east of Virac in Catanduanes at 10 a.m. this morning.
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Quinta now has a strength of 95 kph maximum sustained winds and gustiness of up to 115 kph as it moves westward at a speed of 25 kph.
PAGASA said it also has a chance to further develop as a typhoon by Tuesday, the same day it is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
From Sunday to Monday morning, Quinta is seen to bring moderate to heavy with occasional intense rains over Bicol Region, CALABARZON, Aurora, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque, Calamian Islands, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Aklan and Antique.
Moderate to heavy with occasional intense rains, meanwhile, will be experienced over Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao and Ilocos Norte due to the tail-end of a frontal system.
"These two weather systems will also bring light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Metro Manila, Cordillera Administrative Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Bangsamoro, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, and the rest of Visayas, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and MIMAROPA," the agency added.
PAGASA has also warned that a storm surge of 1 to 2 meters may affect the coastal areas of Northern Samar, Bicol Region, as well as the central and southern portions of Quezon.
Disaster officials this morning said some 532 families or 1,789 persons have been preemptively evacuated in the areas of Guinobatan in Albay and Canaman in Camarines Sur.
Some 662 persons, meanwhile, were reported to have been stranded or currently taking shelter.
The following areas are still under Signal No. 2 and 1, with the weather bureau warning that winds at 61 to 120 kph and 30 to 60 kph, respectively, will prevail over the next 24 hours.
Signal No. 2
- Catanduanes
- Camarines Norte
- Camarines Sur
- Albay
- Sorsogon
- northern portion of Masbate (Milagros, Masbate City, Mobo, Baleno, Aroroy, Mandaon, Uson) including Burias and Ticao Islands,
- central and southern portions of Quezon (Mauban, Sampaloc, Lucban, Dolores, Candelaria, Tiaong, San Antonio, Sariaya, Tayabas City, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Atimonan, Perez, Alabat, Calauag, Quezon, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Lopez, Pitogo, Plaridel, Gumaca, Unisan, Agdangan, Padre Burgos, Macalelon, Catanauan, General Luna, Buenavista, San Narciso, Mulanay, San Andres, San Francisco)
- eastern portion of Batangas (Padre Garcia, Rosario, Ibaan, Batangas City, Lobo, Taysan, San Juan)
- Marinduque
- Romblon
- Oriental Mindoro
- Northern Samar
Signal No. 1
- rest of Masbate
- rest of Quezon
- Laguna
- Rizal
- rest of Batangas
- Cavite
- Metro Manila
- Bulacan
- Pampanga
- Bataan
- southern portion of Zambales (San Marcelino, San Felipe, San Narciso, Castillejos, Subic, San Antonio, Olongapo City, Botolan, Cabangan)
- Occidental Mindoro
- Calamian Islands
- northern portion of Samar (Calbayog City, Matuguinao, Tagapul-An, Santo Nino, Almagro, Santa Margarita, Gandara, San Jose de Buan, Pagsanghan, Tarangnan, San Jorge, Catbalogan City, Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas)
- northern portion of Eastern Samar (Maslog, Jipapad, Arteche, San Policarpo, Oras, Dolores, Can-Avid, Taft)
- northern portion of Capiz (Sapi-An, Ivisan, Roxas City, Panay)
- Aklan
- northern portion of Antique (Caluya, Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi)
- northeastern portion of Iloilo (Batad, Balasan, Estancia, Carles)
Forecast Positions
- Sunday morning: 30 km East Southeast of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro
- Tuesday morning: 540 km West of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro
- Wednesday morning: 960 km West of Central Luzon
— Christian Deiparine