Manila: More areas are placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 as Tropical Depression Wilma accelerates, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Friday. Under TCWS No. 1 are the southern portion of mainland Masbate, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, as well as the northern and central portions of Cebu, including Bantayan and Camotes Islands.
According to Philippines News Agency, other areas under the signal include Bohol, the northern and eastern portions of Negros Occidental, the northern portion of Negros Oriental, the eastern portion of Iloilo, and the eastern portion of Capiz. Surigao del Norte, including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands, Dinagat Islands, the northern portion of Surigao del Sur, the northern portion of Agusan del Norte, and Camiguin are also under the same warning. Strong winds are expected to prevail in these areas.
Wilma was located 245 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern
Samar, as of 4 a.m. It slightly accelerated, moving west-southwest at 20 kilometers per hour (kph). Wilma packs maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center, with gustiness of up to 55 kph. PAGASA has issued a gale warning in effect over the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Luzon and the Visayas.
The tropical depression is forecast to make landfall or pass close over Eastern Visayas or Dinagat Islands between Friday night or Saturday. PAGASA noted that while the cyclone could slightly intensify before making landfall, it is likely to remain as a tropical depression.
