WEATHER | Over 7,000 stranded as 'Urduja' heads for Eastern Samar

Stranded passengers at the port who were stranded due to bad weather condition

Source: CNN Philippines

Metro Manila (December 15) — Thousands of passengers remain stranded at ports Friday in the path of tropical storm "Urduja" (International name: "Kai-tak"), which has strengthened even as it slowed down approaching the eastern Philippines.

Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, and Biliran are now under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 2, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

At the moment, we're already getting reports of flooded areas and some scenarios of landslides. PAGASA weather forecaster Lorie Dela Cruz said.

It's been raining for a few days there, which means to say, it's more likely that the soil is really saturated and that many places are now very prone to floods and landslides.

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Tropical storm Urduja also prompted the Philippine Coast Guard to suspend ferry trips, as PAGASA warned of waves as high as 14 meters off the seas where Signal No. 2 has been raised.

Some 7,500 passengers are stranded at ports in Central Luzon, Eastern Visayas and Bicol as of 4 a.m. Friday, the coast guard said.

Urduja was spotted 205 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, as of 7 a.m., PAGASA said.

Urduja is packing winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, up from the previous 65 kph. The winds carry gusts of up to 90 kph.

Moderate to heavy rains are forecast within a 500-km diameter of the storm, PAGASA added.
The storm, which has slowed to 5 kph, is expected to make landfall over the provinces of Eastern Samar and Northern Samar on Saturday, it added.

Because of its slow movement, Urduja is expected to leave Philippine territory by next week, Dela Cruz said. PAGASA forecast the storm to be 120 kilometers north of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan by December 19.
Meanwhile, the following areas are under Signal No. 1:
In Luzon:

• Catanduanes
• Camarines Sur
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Romblon
• Masbate including Burias and Ticao Islands

In Visayas:

• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Northern Cebu
• Northern Bohol
• Capiz
• Aklan
• Northern Iloilo

In Mindanao:

• Dinagat Islands

Storm signal no. 1 indicates suspension of classes in pre-school and kindergarten levels.

Ahead of Urduja's expected landfall on Saturday, the weather bureau raised flooding warning levels in low-lying areas and warned of possible landslides in mountainous areas.

Scattered to widespread rains are expected over the Visayas and the regions of Bicol and Caraga in the next 24 hours, PAGASA said.

Residents in these areas are also alerted against possible flash floods and landslides.

Fishermen and small seacraft are warned against sailing off the coast of the Bicol region and Visayas due to rough seas.

Some local governments have suspended classes on Friday.