Cyclone Ramon weakens after landfall in Southern Leyte

Tropical cyclone Ramon (Banyan) weakened into a tropical depression after making landfall in Southern Leyte and interacting with the land mass of Eastern Visayas and Northeastern Mindanao, even as storm signals in several areas were lowered Wednesday morning. In its 7:30 a.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Ramon has maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and is forecast to move west-northwest at 15 kph. In an interview on News To Go, PAGASA weather forecaster Rene Paciente confirmed a local PAGASA report saying Ramon made landfall around 6 a.m. in Southern Leyte and weakened after hitting a mountain area. "Lumihis ang bagyo papuntang northern Cebu matapos mag-landfall sa Leyte. Ito ay sa karagatan na ngayon," Paciente said. PAGASA also warned Ramon may still bring 10 to 30 mm per hour (heavy) rainfall from within its 400-km diameter. As of 7 a.m., it said Ramon was estimated at 80 km north of Cebu and is expected to be 40 km southwest of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro by Thursday morning. By Friday morning it is expected to be 400 km west-northwest of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro. By Saturday Morning it is expected to be 470 km west of Iba, Zambales. Under Storm Signal No. 1 are:

- Marinduque - Mindoro Provinces - Romblon - Camarines Sur - Southern Quezon - Catanduanes - Albay - Burias Island - Sorsogon - Ticao Island - Masbate - Coron Island - Samar Provinces - Leyte Provinces - Cebu - Bohol - Panay Island - Guimaras - Negros Provinces - Siquijor Island - Agusan del Norte - Surigao del Sur - Surigao del Norte - Dinagat Island - Siargao Island

PAGASA reminded residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under storm signals to be alert against possible flash floods and landslides. Floods Meanwhile, several families in the Visayas and Mindanao have been evacuated from their homes since Tuesday as Ramon brought floods and landslides to the area, according to the 6 a.m. Wednesday update by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. The NDRRMC said places affected by flooding were: Manaba River in Garcia-Hernandez, Bohol; Barangays Igpit and Malanang, Opol, Misamis Oriental (knee-deep); and Zones 1, 2, 2B, and 3, Brgy Amoros, El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental; Brgy. Igpot in Opol, Misamis Oriental, and in Cagayan de Oro City due to continuous rains. Also, the NDRRMC said search teams are now trying to locate at least seven fishermen from Misamis Oriental who were reported missing amid bad weather conditions due to Ramon. NDRRMC head Benito Ramos said Coast Guard and Navy teams have fanned out to as far as Bohol. "The Coast Guard is working with local fishermen, the Philippine National Police Maritime Group and the Army to find the fishermen. We hope they merely took shelter," he said in a press briefing, portions of which were aired on dzBB radio. Many areas in Visayas and Mindanao have been affected by bad weather conditions brought by Ramon, he added. — LBG, GMA News