Landfall over E. Samar or Leyte projected later Tuesday; also likely to happen over Dinagat-Siargao Islands area

MANILA (UPDATE) - More areas were placed under storm signal number 2 as tropical storm Dante approached Dinagat and Siargao Islands on Tuesday morning, the state weather bureau said.

The country's fourth storm this year has left at least 3 dead and 1 missing after inundating Mindanao.

• 3 dead, 1 missing, as tropical storm Dante lashes Mindanao

The storm was last estimated 235 kilometers east of Maasin City, Southern Leyte as of 10 a.m., moving westward at 25 km per hour while packing 75 kph maximum winds near the center and gusts of up to 90 kph, PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. advisory.

It is expected to make its initial landfall over Eastern Samar or Leyte between Tuesday afternoon and evening, the weather bureau said.

Dante might also make its initial landfall over Leyte or Dinagat Islands-Siargao Islands area due to its movement over the past 3 to 6 hours that may bring it west northwestward or westward, PAGASA added.

It is forecast to maintain its strength prior to landfall and may weaken into a tropical depression on Friday and further weaken into a low pressure area on Saturday.

Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 2, which will bring "damaging winds" that may tilt some wooden, old electric posts, was hoisted over the following areas:

• Masbate including Ticao and Burias Island
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Eastern Samar
• Samar
• Northern Samar
• Biliran
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Dinagat Islands
• Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands

The following areas were placed under tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1, which may cause slight damage to some houses of very light materials or makeshift structures:

• Quezon including Polillo Islands
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes
• Marinduque
• Romblon
• Aklan
• Capiz
• northern and central portion of Iloilo (Lambunao, Janiuay, Dumangas, Zarraga, New Lucena, Pototan, Mina, Badiangan, Dueñas, Calinog, Bingawan, City of Passi, San Enrique, Dingle, Barotac Nuevo, Banate, Anilao, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael, Lemery, Ajuy, Sara, San Dionisio, Concepcion, Batad, Estancia, Balasan, Carles)
• northern portion of Negros Occidental (San Carlos City, Salvador Benedicto, Cadiz City, Sagay City, City of Escalante, Toboso, Calatrava, City of Talisay, Silay City, Enrique B. Magalona, City of Victorias, Manapla, Murcia, Bacolod City)
• Bohol
• northern and central portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin, City of Bogo, San Remigio, Tabogon, Borbon, Tabuelan, Sogod, Tuburan, Catmon, Carmen, Danao City, Asturias, Balamban, Compostela, Liloan, Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Consolacion, Cordova, Toledo City, City of Talisay, Minglanilla, City of Naga, Pinamungahan, San Fernando, Aloguinsan, City of Carcar) including Bantayan and Camotes Islands
• rest of Surigao del Norte
• Surigao del Sur
• Agusan del Norte
• Agusan del Sur
• northeastern portion of Misamis Oriental (Magsaysay, Gingoog City, Talisayan, Balingoan, Medina)
• Camiguin

Dante is forecast to bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Samar, and Eastern Samar, according to PAGASA.

Moderate to heavy rains will prevail over Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Northern Samar, Bohol, the northern portion of Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, Sorsogon, and Masbate, PAGASA said.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains are also likely over Catanduanes, Albay, Camarines Sur, Misamis
Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Camiguin, Bukidnon, Davao Region, and SOCCSKSARGEN, and the rest of Central
Visayas, PAGASA added.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said in its initial report on Dante's impact that 160 families or 612 individuals from Region 11 are affected by the storm.

Of those, 158 families or 604 individuals are staying in 10 evacuation centers.

The agency is also validating whether the death of one person and another one who went missing in Region 12 are directly related to the calamity.

It said flooding, landslide and flashflood incidents have been reported in Regions 12.

Watch more in iWantv or TFC.tv