PAGASA: Floods, landslides threaten EVisayas

Flash floods and landslides from a potential cyclone embedded in an inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) threaten parts of Eastern Visayas, state weather forecasters said Sunday. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) also said there is still a chance the low-pressure area (LPA) may intensify into a cyclone while inside Philippine territory. “Sa ngayon may posibilidad na maging bagyo [ang LPA]. Nagsimula ito within the Philippine area of responsibility, siyempre unang-una magiging tropical depression muna ito, and then magiging tropical storm," PAGASA forecaster Manny Mendoza said in an interview on dzBB radio. If the LPA becomes a cyclone while in Philippine territory, it will be locally codenamed “Juaning." As of 2 a.m. Sunday, Mendoza said the LPA was estimated at 530 km east-northeast of Borongan town in Eastern Samar, embedded in the ITCZ affecting Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. He said the ITCZ may bring rains over parts of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, but will bring widespread rains over Eastern Visayas. “(Kung yung ITCZ) nag-oscillate pataas... magkakaroon ng malawakang pagulan lalo sa silangang Visayas. Kung tataas ang ITCZ, masasakop ang Bicol Region," he said. In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to at times cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening. — LBG, GMA News