MANILA: Weather forecasters warned residents in areas placed under storm warning signals of possible flash floods and landslides due to heavy to intense rain brought by tropical cyclone “Quinta” (Wukong).
Quinta — the 17th tropical cyclone to enter the country this year — was forecast to make landfall over Dinagat Island at 10 last night.
Storm warning signal number 2 was raised over 11 areas on Tuesday afternoon as Quinta moved closer to Eastern Visayas.
Placed under signal no 2 were Eastern Samar, Western Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Northern Cebu, Camotes Island, Bohol, Biliran, Dinagat province, Siargao Island and Surigao del Norte.
Signal no 1 was hoisted over Northern Samar, Masbate, Ticao Island, Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros provinces, Siquijor, the rest of Cebu, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin and Surigao del Sur.
Nathaniel Servando, administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, said Quinta was not expected to directly hit Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental, two areas severely affected by typhoon “Pablo” early this month.
Servando said Quinta was not expected to be as powerful as Pablo.
“The difference between Pablo and Quinta is Pablo was already a typhoon when it entered the Philippine area of responsibility while Quinta intensified into a tropical depression inside the Philippine area of responsibility,” he said.
He explained that Pablo’s long duration over the sea allowed it to gather strength.
As of 4 pm yesterday, the centre of Quinta was spotted at 90 kilometres southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar with maximum winds of 75 kilometres per hour (kph) near the centre and gustiness of up to 90 kph.
It was forecast to move west at 24 kph.
Servando said Quinta has started to bring strong winds and intense rains over Eastern Visayas last night.
The storm is expected to bring 10 to 20 millimetres per hour of rain (heavy to intense) within its 350km radius.
After making landfall over Dinagat Island, Quinta was forecast to cross Southern Leyte, Northern Cebu, Northern Negros, and Northern Palawan.
Quinta will leave the Philippine area of responsibility today or tomorrow.
The Philippine Star
