TD Amang to bring heavy rain over eastern Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Amang, the first cyclone of the year, will bring heavy to intense rains over the eastern parts of Luzon and the Visayas, according to state weather forecasters.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1 has been hoisted over parts of the country as Amang heads westward toward the coast of Catanduanes.

Amang was located 270 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes in its 5 p.m. advisory.

It is expected to remain offshore over the waters east of Luzon until the end of the week. However, a landfall scenario over the Bicol Peninsula is not being ruled out.

Amang is forecast to remain a tropical depression and may possibly weaken into a low-pressure area by late tomorrow or early Friday.

Amang was moving westward at 30km/h and was carrying maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 70 km/h.

Signal No. 1 was raised over Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, parts of Quezon, Marinduque, Masbate, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar and Biliran.

Strong winds may pose minimal to minor threat to life and property.

Signal no. 1 may be hoisted in other localities in Eastern Visayas and Bicol Region as Amang moves westward.

PAGASA said that intense rains, between 100-200mm of rainfall, are expected until Thursday in the Bicol Region, Northern Samar and the northern portions of Samar and Eastern Samar.

Preparedness

The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) is now taking necessary preparedness measures in anticipation of the effects of Tropical Depression Amang.

Rescue and relief items are being readied in case there would be a need to send them to areas where help would be needed as the Luzon and Visayas provinces brace for the first typhoon of the year.

Office of Civil Defense (OCD) spokesman, Assistant Secretary Raffy Alejandro, said the NDRRMC and its regional counterparts have been placed on alert.

He said pre-disaster risk assessment that will determine the alert status and its corresponding preparedness measures of affected regions and provinces are being carried out.

Alejandro said the OCD-NDRRMC is also in close coordination with all concerned member-agencies to ensure the availability and pre-positioning of response assets and relief items for immediate deployment and distribution. – Robertzon Ramirez, Michael Punongbayan, Michelle Zoleta