MANILA, Philippines - The state weather bureau lifted public storm warning signals raised over several areas in Mindanao as the country's first storm moved towards Palawan province.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) earlier raised the storm alert level over the southern part of Negros provinces, Siquijor Island, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay.
As of 5 p.m. Thursday, only Palawan province was placed under public storm warning signal number 1.
PAGASA said that at 4 p.m., the center of tropical depression "Auring" was estimated at 190 kilometers southeast of Puerto Princesa City. The storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center as it moved west at a speed of 28 kph.
The storm was expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Friday afternoon.
"Residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signal #1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Estimated rainfall amount is from 5 - 15 mm per hour (moderate - heavy) within the 250 km diameter of the tropical depression," PAGASA warned.