Weather: Floods, landslides loom over East Visayas, Mindanao

Flash floods and landslides threaten parts of Eastern Visayas and Mindanao even as rains loom over Mindanao, including flood-hit Davao and Cotabato, state weather forecasters said Friday. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said an inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) will bring rains to parts of the Visayas, Mindanao, and Palawan. "Wala pang low-pressure area sa anumang bahagi ng ating area of responsibility. Pero patuloy umiiral ang ITCZ sa Visayas, Mindanao, at Palawan (We still see no low-pressure area in Philippine territory. But the ITCZ will continue bringing rains to parts of Visayas, Mindanao and Palawan)," PAGASA forecaster Joel Jesusa said in an interview on dzBB radio. Jesusa indicated the Mindanao areas where the rain will fall include Davao City and Cotabato City. At least 29 people were killed when flash floods caused by heavy downpour hit at least four villages in Davao City earlier this week. "Buong Mindanao po halos talagang patuloy ang pagulan nila, may approaching cloudiness (The entire Mindanao can expect rains today, there is an approaching cloudiness)," Jesusa said. On the other hand, he said Central and Northern Luzon can expect relatively good weather, while Metro Manila can expect thunderstorms in the afternoon. Flash floods, landslides PAGASA’s 5 a.m. bulletin indicated possible flash floods and landslides over the eastern parts of the Visayas and Mindanao. "Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over Eastern Visayas and Mindanao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides," it said in its bulletin. It added that the rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening. Meanwhile, PAGASA said light to moderate winds blowing from the east to southeast will prevail over Luzon and coming from the southwest to west over the rest of the country. — RSJ, GMA News