Zoraida, a tropical depression, won’t bring the same damage as Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), but could bring more rains to storm-ravaged areas.
According to PAGASA, Zoraida made landfall over Davao Oriental on Tuesday morning and is moving northwest.
At 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Zoraia “has made landfall over Davao Oriental and is now moving Northwestward,” the weather agency said.
It has maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and the storm is moving northwest at 30 kph.
The storm is bringing in heavy rains to provinces that were heavily affected by Typhoon Yolanda–which killed thousands of people–and areas affected by October’s 7.1 magnitude earthquake.
Weather.com reported that “the rainfall that comes with it will be unwelcome, particularly if it nudges north into the central Philippines where Haiyan (known in the Philippines as Yolanda) dealt its worst blow.”
In October, a powerful earthquake left hundreds of thousands of people homeless; they will also likely be impacted by the heavy rains as well. According to Reuters, more than 350,000 people were left homeless in the quake.
PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio told GMA News that may follow the same path as Yolanda.
However, it appears unlikely to strengthen into a typhoon.
A public storm signal No. 1 was issued for Siquijor, Southern Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Southern Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Dinagat Province, Siargao Island, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Compostella Valley, Davao del Norte, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, and Camiguin Island.
According to AP, the Philippines experiences around 20 tropical cyclones per year. Most strike in the central islands and the main island of Luzon.
