Vinta keeps Bohol boats

sailing from their berths

TAGBILARAN CITY, December 21 (PIA)--With tropical storm Vinta barreling towards eastern Mindanao and typhoon signal covering Bohol and in 14 other provinces, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has ordered the suspension of all boat trips from Tagbilaran, at least until the next favorable weather advisory.

PCG Tagbilaran Station operations officer seaman 2 Nicolo Gonzales, in an interview with a local radio confirmed the suspension as the state weather bureau bared that the tropical depression has been upgraded into a tropical storm (TS) as of 5:00 AM December 21.

State weather bureau, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) in its 8:00 AM December 21 weather bulletin said that as of 7:00 AM, the center of TS VintaPH was estimated based on all available data at 440 km East of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur (08.7 °N, 130.3 °E).

The storm packs maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

If it continues with its westerly direction, Vinta would be a threat to Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, and Agusan del Sur that the weather agency has shrouded these provinces under tropical cyclone warning signal 2 (TCWS #2) or storm signal 2.

In these provinces mentioned, winds of 61 up to 120 kph could be experienced within the next 24 hours, PAG-ASA said.

Also, TCWS#1 where residents could feel the 30 to 60 kph winds in the next 36 hrs has been hoisted over Southern Leyte, southern portion of Leyte, and Bohol, Dinagat Island, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, North Cotabato, Maguindanao, Northern Davao Oriental, Northern Davao del Sur, Compostela Valley, and Davao del Norte.

In fact, PAG-ASA is contemplating on including southern Cebu, Siquijor, and Misamis Occidental in the areas under TCWS No. 1 in its 11:00 AM December 21 bulletin.

Sea travel is risky over the seaboards of areas under TCWS, PAG-ASA warned.

With the prevailing condition, scattered to widespread moderate to heavy rains is expected over Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Caraga, Davao Region and Northern Mindanao within 24 hours.

According to the weather agency, residents of these mentioned areas must make appropriate actions against possible flooding and landslides, coordinate with their respective local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring for updates.

Vinta is expected to make landfall over Caraga - Davao Region area between this evening and tomorrow morning (22 December). (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)