MANILA, Dec. 4 -- The low pressure area east of Eastern Visayas has developed into tropical depression (TD) and was named Wilma.

In a bulletin posted 11:30 a.m. Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the weather disturbance was last tracked 625 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar. It is moving west southwestward at 20 kilometers per hour (kph).

Wilma packs maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center, and gustiness of up to 55 kph.

Strong winds will prevail in areas where Signal No. 1 is hoisted including Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Surigao del Norte including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands and Dinagat Islands.

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