Tropical Depression Basyang crossing Negros Island after fifth landfall

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Depression Basyang (Penha) made its fourth and fifth landfalls in Cebu and Negros Oriental, respectively, on Friday evening, February 6.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Basyang has made landfall in these areas, so far:

Thursday, February 5, as a tropical storm

• Bayabas, Surigao del Sur (11:50 pm)

Friday, February 6, as a tropical depression

• Jagna, Bohol (11 am)
• Dauis, Bohol (4 pm)
• Alcoy, Cebu (7:50 pm)
• Ayungon, Negros Oriental (9 pm)

As of 1 am on Saturday, February 7, Basyang was already in the vicinity of Cauayan, Negros Occidental. The tropical depression is moving west over Negros Island at 15 kilometers per hour (km/h), heading for the southern portion of Panay Island or the Panay Gulf.

Basyang had weakened after its fifth landfall on Friday night, with its maximum sustained winds down to 45 km/h from 55 km/h. Its gustiness also eased from 75 km/h to 60 km/h.

It remains likely to weaken into a low pressure area within 12 hours.

PAGASA said in a separate update at 2 am on Saturday that Basyang may still trigger light to moderate rain, with occasionally heavy rain, in Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Biliran, Leyte, Antique, Guimaras, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Occidental Mindoro, and Palawan in the next few hours.

During the peak of Basyang’s onslaught as a tropical storm, it dumped heavy to torrential rain, especially in the regions of Caraga and Northern Mindanao. Floods and landslides hit various areas.

The shear line will also be bringing rain to a few provinces in Luzon in the coming days.

Friday evening, February 6, to Saturday evening, February 7

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Quezon, Camarines Norte

Saturday evening, February 7, to Sunday evening, February 8

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Camarines Norte

Sunday evening, February 8, to Monday evening, February 9

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes

Amid strong winds from Basyang, only the following areas are still under Signal No. 1 as of 2 am on Saturday:

• Cuyo and Cagayancillo Islands
• western part of Leyte (San Isidro, Calubian, Leyte, Tabango, Villaba, Matag-ob, Kananga, Palompon, Isabel, Merida, Ormoc City, Albuera, Burauen, Baybay City, Inopacan, Hindang, Hilongos, Bato, Matalom)
• western part of Southern Leyte (Maasin City, Macrohon)
• Bohol
• Cebu
• Siquijor
• Negros Oriental
• Negros Occidental
• Guimaras
• Iloilo
• Capiz
• Aklan
• Antique

Signal No. 2 was the highest tropical cyclone wind signal raised due to Basyang.

The surge of the northeast monsoon or amihan will also continue to bring strong to gale-force gusts to the following areas:

Saturday, February 7

• most of Luzon, Western Visayas, most of Negros Island Region, Zamboanga del Norte

Sunday, February 8

• most of Luzon, Western Visayas

Monday, February 9

• most of Luzon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, northern part of Cebu, Negros Occidental, Western Visayas

Due to both the northeast monsoon and Basyang, moderate to very rough sea conditions persist on Saturday.

Up to very rough seas (travel is risky for all vessels)

• Seaboards of Batanes – waves up to 4.5 meters high

Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea)

• Seaboards of Babuyan Islands – waves up to 4 meters high
• Western seaboard of Ilocos Norte; seaboard of Ilocos Sur; northern seaboards of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur; northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar; eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands, Albay, Sorsogon, Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands, and Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands – waves up to 3 meters high

Up to moderate seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible)

• Seaboards of Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, northern Quezon, Antique, southern Iloilo, and southern Negros Occidental; northern seaboards of Polillo Islands and Ilocos Norte; eastern seaboards of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Davao Oriental; remaining seaboards of Ilocos Region – waves up to 2.5 meters high
• Seaboards of Romblon, Aklan, Capiz, Guimaras, southern Negros Oriental, and southern Cebu; western and southern seaboards of Bohol; northern seaboard of Zamboanga del Norte; eastern seaboard of Davao Occidental – waves up to 2 meters high

Basyang is the Philippines’ second tropical cyclone for 2026, after Tropical Storm Ada (Nokaen) in January. PAGASA previously estimated there would be up to one tropical cyclone in February. – Rappler.com