MANILA, Philippines - Storm "Quinta" was downgraded to a tropical depression on Wednesday morning as it continued to weaken after making six landfalls in the Visayas, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced.
As of 10 a.m., the center of "Quinta" was in the vicinity of Roxas City in Capiz province with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center.
The storm was moving west at a speed of 24 kilometers per hour.
Weather Forecaster Ricky Fabregas said that "Quinta" made six landfalls over the Visayas. The first recorded landfall was in Homonhon, Eastern Samar on Tuesday night.
The other landfalls happened over Abuyog, Leyte around midnight, over Poro Island in Cebu around 3:00 a.m. Wednesday, over Pacijan, Cebu at about 4:00 a.m., and over Catmon, Cebu around 6:00 a.m.
Meanwhile, PAGASA lifted public storm warning signal number 2 hoisted over several areas in Luzon and Visayas.
Public storm warning signal number 1 remains raised over Mindoro Provinces, Romblon, Masbate, Burias Island, Northern Palawan including the Calamian Group of Islands and Marinduque, Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Iloilo, Negros Provinces, Cebu and Guimaras.
The storm was expected to be at 270 km west of Coron, Palawan by Thursday morning and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by the evening.
PAGASA said that the storm will bring moderate to heavy rains over Luzon, Visayas and some parts of Mindanao.
In a thunderstorm warning issued Wednesday morning, the weather bureau said that Metro Manila should experience rains within the day.
"Residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signal #1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides," PAGASA said.
The National Disaster Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) remains on red alert in areas affected by the storm.
The weather bureau said that "Quinta" was the 16th and maybe the last storm to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility this year.
Typhoon "Pablo" which also made landfall over Mindanao last December 2 is considered as the most devastating storm to hit the country in 2012. More than 1,000 people have been confirmed killed from "Pablo" and more than 800 remained missing.
Hundreds of families were still staying in evacuation centers in Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley, the provinces that suffered the most damages and casualties from "Pablo."