Agaton veers away from Visayas, stays on track in Mindanao

PAGASA forecast shows new track of Typhoon Agaton as of January 19, 2014

By DAVAO TODAY Davao City — Tropical cyclone Agaton, the first storm of 2014, has changed direction moving southeast of Mindanao.

PAGASA’s bulletin this Sunday morning said Agaton “has moved south southwestward while maintaining its strength” of maximum winds at 55 kph, and is forecast to be at 145 km southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur by Monday morning, 87 km southeast of Davao City by Tuesday morning, 190 km southwest of Davao City or 75 km West of General Santos City by Wednesday morning.

The bureau earlier forecast the storm to pass by Visayas but now has changed direction moving south.

Public storm warning signal no. 1 has been lifted from Southern Leyte, but seven provinces in Mindanao is still placed under storm signal 1 including Surigao del Norte including Siargao Island, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Province, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.

PAGASA forecast rains with gusty winds in Caraga region, Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley, while the rest of Davao, Northern Mindanao and Visayas will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasional heavy rains and thunderstorms.

The bureau warned that heavy rains may trigger flashfloods and landslides, and advised local disaster units to be on alert and make preparations.

The Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) posted on Friday that the city is under alert level 1 meaning units are monitoring and tracking conditions in the city and remaining alert to calls. The update said rivers crossing Davao City are at “normal or safe levels” as of Friday.

In Surigao City, sea trips have been cancelled by the Philippine Ports Authority Surigao City since Friday, leaving some 474 passengers and 35 vehicles bound to Leyte stranded at the Lipata Port Ferry Terminal. Some 22 passengers at Surigao City Port bound to Cebu City and Siargao Island had been stranded.

Surigao CDRRMC reported a total of 77 families and 1,931 people are now sheltered in evacuation centers in Barangays Luna, Canlanipa and San Juan. Flights have also been cancelled since Friday affecting trips in Cagayan de Oro, Surigao and Cebu. (davaotoday.com)