Auring Rains Felt in Mindanao, Thousands Flee Ahead of Landfall

Eastern Mindanao on Saturday started receiving rains stirred by approaching Tropical Storm Auring (Dujuan), weather bureau PAGASA said, as thousands were evacuated due to the threat of floods and landslides.

At 10 a.m., Auring was located 595 kilometers east southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center with 90 kph gusts, PAGASA said. It is expected to hit land early Sunday.

Rains from Auring will inundate areas that have received rains from the Amihan or Northeast Monsoon, said PAGASA Weather Specialist Raymond Ordinario said. 

"Kaya pinapayuhan ang ating mga kababayan, wala pa man ang bagyong Auring na maging alerto at maghanda na sa mga posibleng aksyon na kailangang gawin dahil dito sa mga pag-ulan na magsisimula ngayong araw at magtatagal hanggang Lunes," he said. 

Evacuations are underway, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) spokesperson Mark Timbal told PTV-4.  

As of Friday, 1,241 families in Surigao del Sur, where Auring is expected to hit first, were moved to 36 shelters where COVID-19 protocols will be observed, he said. Authorities also stockpiled relief supplies, he said.

"Pinapanawagan po natin sa mga kababayan natin na siguraduhin po nila na bago po sila umalis ng bahay, kung pinatawag na po ang evacuation, suotin po nila yung face masks nila at ensure physical distancing din hanggang sa evacuation center para masigurado po tayong makaiwas sa sakit," he said.

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What will the weather be like?

From Saturday until Sunday morning:

Heavy to intense rains over Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Islands, and Eastern Samar. Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, and the rest of Caraga. Light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Central Visayas, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, and the rest of Northern Mindanao and Eastern Visayas.

From Sunday morning through Monday:

Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Leyte, Southern Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Surigao del Norte, and Dinagat Islands. Light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Bicol Region, MIMAROPA, the southern portion of Quezon, and the rest of Visayas and Caraga ALSO

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Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1, whose expected winds of 30 to 60 kph may cause light damage to high-risk structures, was raised in 25 areas:

VISAYAS

• Bohol
• Biliran
• Cebu
• Negros Oriental
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Samar
• Northern Samar
• Eastern Samar
• Siquijor 

 MINDANAO: