Signal No. 1 up in Visayas, Mindanao

The low pressure area (LPA) off Mindanao has intensified into a tropical depression named "Kabayan," the first storm to hit the country this month, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Sunday.

Weather specialist Patrick del Mundo said Signal No. 1 was raised in the southern portion of Samar (Basey, Santa Rita and Mart), the southern portion of Eastern Samar (Maydolong, City of Borongan, Quinapondan, Guiuan, Lawaan, Balangiga, Llorente, Giporlos, Salcedo, Balangkayan, General Macarthur, Hernani and Mercedes), the eastern and southern portions of Leyte (Mahaplag, Abuyog, Javier, Macarthur, Tabontabon, La Paz, Mayorga, Tolosa, Tanauan, Julita, Dulag, Palo, Tacloban City, Babatngon, Matalom, Hilongos and Bato) and Southern Leyte in Visayas.