“Basyang” weakened into a tropical depression as it made landfall in Surigao del Sur at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday but is expected to be nearest to Bohol this afternoon, said state weather bureau PAGASA on Tuesday.
According to PAGASA Bohol forecaster Leonard Samar, the storm will pass through waters between Bohol and Siquijor.
Basyang will not make landfall in Bohol but the “most critical” hours for the province will be between 1 p.m. and nightfall.
“Estimate nato na kinduolan ani sa Bohol is 30 to 40 kilometers gikan sa Tagbilaran,” said Samar.
He noted that towns in the south east area of Bohol including Anda, Guindulman and Jagna will be the first to be hit by rains and winds brought by the weather disturbance.
“Gikan sa pag landfall, mo traverse ni siya three to four hours padung sa Camiguin, unya tungod kay duol ra man kaayo na, ang mga sa eastern part of Bohol makasinati na,” he added
However, the storm signal in Bohol was downgraded to signal number 1 from 2.
This was after Basyang weakened into a tropical depression as it made landfall over Cortes, Surigao del Sur.
PAGASA indicated in its 11 a.m. weather bulletin that Basyang was packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 75 kph.
As the storm weakened, all signal number 2 warnings were either lifted or downgraded to signal number 1.
According to PAGASA, Storm Signal Number 1 remained hoisted over the following areas:
Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo groups of islands,Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Cebu, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, southern section of Samar, and southern section of Eastern Samar,Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, northern section of Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, northern section of Lanao del Sur, Misamis Occidental, and northern section of Zamboanga del Norte. (AD)