MANILA - At least 10 areas in Mindanao were placed under storm signal no. 2 Thursday afternoon after Tropical Storm "Vinta" slightly intensified, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

As of 3 p.m., "Vinta" was spotted 200 kms east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur with maximum sustained winds of 80 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 110 kph, PAGASA said in its 5 p.m. advisory.

"Vinta" continues to move west at 21 kph, but is expected to intensify once it makes landfall between Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental either Thursday evening or early Friday, PAGASA said.

"Medyo malaki 'yung sakop ng bagyong Vinta. Inaasahan na kapag lumapag ito sa kalupaan ay maaapektuhan ang Visayas at Mindanao," the state weather bureau said.

(Vinta has a wide scope. It is expected to affect Visayas and Mindanao once it makes landfall.)

The following areas were placed under Public Storm Warning Signal No. 2:

- Surigao del Sur
- Surigao del Norte including Siargao Islands
- Agusan del Norte
- Agusan del Sur
- Northern Davao Oriental
- Misamis Oriental
- Camiguin
- Bukidnon
- Lanao del Norte
- Lanao del Sur

Signal No. 1 was raised in the following areas:

- Dinagat Islands
- Rest of Davao Oriental
- Compostela Valley
- Davao del Norte
- Northern Davao del Sur
- North Cotabato
- Maguindanao
- Misamis Occidental
- Zamboanga del Norte
- Zamboanga del Sur
- Zamboanga Sibugay
- Southern Leyte
- Southern part of Leyte
- Bohol
- Siquijor
- Southern Cebu
- Southern Negros Oriental
- Southern Negros Occidental

The storm is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Christmas Day. "Vinta" is set to hit Mindanao while provinces in the Visayas and parts of Southern Luzon still reeled from the effects of Tropical Storm "Urduja."

• 'Urduja' damage breaches P1 billion - NDRRMC