PAGASA warns of possible flooding in Eastern Visayas due to LPA

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 13 (PNA) -- The state weather bureau issued a rainfall warning over Eastern Visayas early Friday morning due to low pressure area (LPA).

In its advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has identified several rivers in five provinces that would likely be affected by heavy downpour.

These are Sangputan, Palo, Solano, Daguitan, Marabong, Cadacan, Bongquirogon, Salug, Pagbanagaran, Pagsangahan, and Binahaan in Leyte; Catarman, Bugko, Pambujan, Catubig, Palapag, Mano, and Gamay in northern Samar.

Other affected rivers are Oras, Dolores, Ulot, Taft, Borongan, Suribao, Llorento, Balangiga, and Sulat in Eastern Samar; Basey, Silaga, Calbiga and Jibatan in Samar; and Bisay, Himbangan, and Pandan in southern Leyte.

Since the wake of Tropical Depression “Auring” five days ago, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) has been issuing advisories to local government units in the region on possible flooding and landslides.

“We have been closely coordinating with local government units over the past weeks because of cloudy weather and moderate to heavy rains brought by northeast monsoon or Amihan. The low pressure area will probably dump more rains to the region until Monday,” said RDRRMC chairman Edgar Posadas in a phone interview.

“This is the time that we don’t need a warning signal to experience heavy rains. It is important for people in low lying communities to be on alert,” Posadas added.

The state weather bureau tracked the low pressure area 425 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte early Friday morning. (PNA)

JMC/SQM