Surigao del Sur has evacuated thousands of residents ahead of the expected landfall of Tropical Storm Auring over the eastern coast of Caraga today while maintaining its strength as it moved towards the region.
Surigao del Sur Gov. Ayec Pimentel said the provincial government had conducted preemptive evacuation of more than 12,700 residents in 12 towns.
In its 5 a.m. Saturday bulletin, the state weather bureau said the center of the country’s first tropical cyclone this year was last estimated 475 kilometers east southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur as of 4 a.m., almost stationary while packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 90 kph.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 is hoisted over parts of the Visayas and Mindanao as the combined effects of the surge of the northeast monsoon and Auring will bring strong to gale-force winds.
In the Visayas, TCWS No. 1 is raised over Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Bohol, and Siquijor in the Visayas.
In Mindanao, TCWS No. 1 is also raised over the Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao City, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon, and Lanao del Sur.
From Saturday noon to Sunday noon, PAGASA forecast heavy to intense rains over Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, the Dinagat Islands, and Eastern Samar.
Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains will prevail over Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, and the rest of Caraga, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains will prevail over Central Visayas, Davao Oriental, Davao del Oro, Davao del Norte, and the rest of Northern Mindanao and Eastern Visayas.
Auring is forecast to make landfall over the eastern coast of Caraga Region on Sunday morning or afternoon, and then cross Visayas and Mimaropa later that day until Monday, PAGASA said.
The province remains under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1, where winds of 30 to 60 kph, which may cause light damage to high risk structures, may be expected within 36 hours.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council advised the public Saturday to take the necessary precautions since the effects of Auring might be stronger than what was forecast.
From Sunday morning to Monday morning, moderate to heavy to at times intense rains were forecast over Leyte, Southern Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Surigao del Norte, and Dinagat Islands. Light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Bicol Region, MIMAROPA, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, the southern portion of Quezon, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, and the rest of Visayas and Caraga.
The weather bureau warned of possible widespread flooding and rain-induced landslides in areas prone to these hazards.
Relief goods and standby funds were already prepositioned in anticipation of their need, according to officials.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Saturday more than 1,000 families had been evacuated in Caraga Region, a hazard land area for the approach of Auring from the Pacific.
The 1,241 evacuated families is equivalent to 4,847 individuals.