Agaton PH Updates Jan 2: Signal No 1 Raised In Numerous Areas

Photo via PAGASA's official Facebook

Agaton PH updates

On Jan 2, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration says tropical depression Agaton is now over Southern Negros Oriental. It brought heavy rains in the eastern and northern parts of Mindanao and Visayas taking the same path of Tropical Storm Vinta. Meanwhile, Tropical Cyclone Signal Warning No 1 is hoisted in numerous areas.

At 8 am on Jan 2, the center of Tropical Depression Agaton was estimated based on all available data in the vicinity of Bais City, Negros Oriental. It has maximum sustained winds of 55 kph and gustiness of up to 90 kph. It is forecast to move west at 25 kph.

AgatonPH now over Southern Negros Oriental

On Dec 21, tropical depression Vinta affected numerous areas in Visayas and Mindanao. It made its way to eastern Mindanao affecting Caraga-Davao region days before Christmas Day. PAGASA weather chief Esperanza Cayanan says the track of Agaton is similar to Vinta. This is a concern because the soil is still moist due to rains from Vinta. Cayanan says the rain brought about by Agaton is not as strong as Vinta but it can worsen its effects.

Agaton made landfall four times on Jan 2. One in the morning at Socorro, Surigao del Norte, 1:15 am at Claver, 4 am at Jagna, Bohol, 5 am at Santander, Cebu, and 7:30 am at Bais City, Negros Oriental. and caused floods in Central Visayas. CNN recently reported that on New Year’s Eve, while Agaton was still a low-pressure area, at least 200 people were rescued in Toledo City, Cebu.

According to PAGASA’s 8:30 am bulletin, Agaton is now over Southern Negros Oriental. Scattered widespread to heavy rains is expected over Visayas, Misamis Occidental, Dipolog City, Northern Zamboanga del Norte, and Palawan.

Meanwhile, Tropical Cyclone Signal Warning No 1 is hoisted over Palawan including Cuyo Island Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, Guimaras, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Southern Antique and Southern Iloilo.

Residents in these areas are advised to take precautionary measures against possible flooding and landslides and coordinate with their respective local disaster risk reduction management.

On Twitter, netizens post memes about this tropical depression affecting the Philippines in the first week of 2018. Others post updates like cancelled Bohol-Cebu trips,

PAGASA says Agaton may be out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Thursday morning.