At least two persons were reported dead in Antique from the effects of Tropical Storm ''Crising'' and the enhanced southwest monsoom, Office of Civil Defense officer-in-charge Bernardo Alejandro IV said on Friday.

''This is still for validation. As of now, they are declared missing,'' said Alejandro over Bilyonario News Channel Friday night.

Antique is part of areas experiencing moderate rainfall on Friday, which is expected to continue on Saturday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Over 20,000 people in three regions aside from the north were affected by floods and landslides as ''Crising'' developed into tropical storm on Friday morning.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) recorded 23,918 persons or 7,501 families in Western, Eastern Visayas and Soccsksargen.

Beset with flooding in ''multiple barangays'', Cebu City declared a state of calamity on Friday.

According to the Cebu City Public Information Office, "the declaration enables the city to intensify flood mitigation efforts, including preparation, repair, desilting, and declogging of waterways in critical areas."

NDRRMC said 643 individuals where displaced and being served inside six evacuation centers.

It added that 23 road sections and two bridges were affected by the weather disturbance of which 19 roads and one bridge in Western and Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao

The number of stranded passengers, truck drivers and cargo helpers in 37 different ports of Southwestern Mindanao, Southern Tagalog, Palawan, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Southern Visayas and Northern Mindanao rose to 1,024.

A total of 348 rolling cargoes, 50 vessels and 45 motorbancas were also stranded while 35 vessels and 12 motorboats are taking shelter due to Crising.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) reported 69 flights were cancelled while six other flights were diverted on Friday.

"A total of 7,346 passengers have been affected by the adverse weather conditions," it stated.

As of 8pm, Tropical Storm ''Crising'' was last spotted at 100 km northeast of Aparri, Cagayan with maximum sustained wind of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph while moving west northwest at the speed of 20kph.

Tropical cyclone wind signal number two was raised over Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, the northern and central portions of Abra (Manabo, Pidigan, San Juan, Tayum, Langiden, Boliney, Sallapadan, Bucloc, Lagangilang, Danglas, La Paz, Licuan-Baay, Tineg, Malibcong, Penarrubia, San Isidro, Daguioman, San Quintin, Dolores, Lagayan, Bangued, Bucay, Lacub), the eastern portion of Mountain Province (Natonin, Paracelis), the eastern portion of Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista), Ilocos Norte, and the northern portion of Ilocos Sur (Cabugao, Sinait, Magsingal, San Juan, San Ildefonso, Santo Domingo, Bantay, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, Caoayan, City of Vigan, Santa) in Luzon.

The areas of Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Mountain Province, the rest of Ifugao, the rest of Abra, Benguet, the rest of Ilocos Sur, La Union, the northern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Natividad, San Quintin, San Manuel, Tayug, Sison, San Fabian, Pozorrubio, Laoac, Binalonan, San Jacinto, Manaoag, Mangaldan, Dagupan City, Binmaley, Lingayen, Labrador, Sual, City of Alaminos, Bolinao, Anda, Bani, Agno, Burgos, Mabini, Dasol, Calasiao, Santa Barbara, Mapandan, Bugallon), the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler, Maria Aurora), and the northeastern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Pantabangan) were also placed under tropical cyclone wind signal number one.

''Crising'' is expected to move west northwestward within the next 12 hours and may make landfall over northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan or Babuyan Islands on Friday evening.

"Afterwards, it will continue to move west northwestward until it exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility by tomorrow (19 July) afternoon," the state weather bureau said. Robina Asido/DMS