AGHON FIRST TROPICAL DEPRESSION TO ENTER PAR THIS YEAR, STORM SIGNAL RAISED IN 20 AREAS

PHILIPPINE Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Friday said signal no. 1 was raised over 20 areas  due to tropical depression Aghon.

Aghon is the first storm to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this year.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin on Friday, PAGASA said signal no. was hoisted over Sorsogon, Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Masbate, including Ticao Island, Burias Island, and Quezon (Calauag, Guinayangan, Lopez, Buenavista, Catanauan, Mulanay, San Narciso, San Francisco, San Andres, Tagkawayan) in Luzon.

In the Visayas, the areas of Eastern Samar, Samar, Northern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran

Cebu (San Remigio, Tabogon, City of Bogo, Medellin, Daanbantayan, Borbon), including Camotes Islands and Bantayan Islands Bohol (Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Bien Unido, Trinidad, Anda, Candijay, Ubay, Mabini, Alicia, San Miguel, Talibon) are also under signal no. 1.

Meanwhile, also placed under the same storm signal are the Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur (Sibagat, City of Bayugan, Prosperidad, San Francisco, Rosario, Bunawan, Trento), and Agusan del Norte in Mindanao.

According to PAGASA, the center of TD Aghon was last located at 135 kilometers northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, and it was moving west-northwestward at 30 kph.

Aghon had maximum wind speeds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of 40 kph.

The tropical depression was forecast to move generally west northwestward to northwestward from Friday until Saturday while slowly intensifying.

“Current forecast scenario shows intensification into a severe tropical storm by Sunday morning and into a typhoon by Monday,” PAGASA said.