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12 areas under Signal No. 3 as Ompong accelerates


The number of areas under Signal No. 3 climbed from 10 to 12 early Friday afternoon as Typhoon Ompong (international name: Mangkhut) continued to barrel toward northern Luzon.

According to PAGASA's 2 p.m. update, areas under Signal No. 3 are the following:

  • Cagayan incl. Babuyan group of Is.
  • Ilocos Norte
  • Ilocos Sur
  • Apayao
  • Abra
  • Kalinga
  • Mountain Province
  • Ifugao
  • Nueva Vizcaya
  • Quirino
  • Northern Aurora
  • Isabela

For areas under Signal No. 3, PAGASA said winds of greater than 121 kph up to 170 kph may be expected within at least 18 hours. Residents are advised to seek shelter in strong buildings, evacuate low-lying areas, and to stay away from the coasts and river banks.

PAGASA warned that travel in these areas will be "very risky" especially by sea and air, while widespread disruption of electrical power and communication services may be experienced.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said the following areas are under Signal No. 2:

  • Batanes
  • La Union
  • Benguet
  • Pangasinan
  • Tarlac
  • Nueva Ecija
  • Southern Aurora
  • Northern Zambales

Under Signal No. 1, on the other hand, are the following areas:

  • Southern Zambales
  • Pampanga
  • Bulacan
  • Bataan
  • Rizal
  • Metro Manila
  • Cavite
  • Batangas
  • Laguna
  • Quezon incl. Polillo Is.
  • Northern Occidental Mindoro incl. Lubang Is.
  • Northern Oriental Mindoro
  • Masbate
  • Marinduque
  • Camarines Norte
  • Camarines Sur
  • Catanduanes
  • Albay
  • Sorsogon
  • Burias and Ticao Islands
  • Northern Samar

Ompong faster

PAGASA said as of 1 p.m. Friday, the eye of Ompong was at 470 km East of Baler, Aurora, and was moving faster west northwest at 25 kph, up from the 20 kph at PAGASA's 11 a.m. update.

Ompong packs maximum sustained winds of 205 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 255 kph.

Ompong is forecast to make landfall early on Saturday in the Cayagan- Isabela area and will be the strongest of 15 storms to have hit the country this year.

Medical and emergency response teams were on stand by, heavy equipment mobilized and more than P1.7 billion of relief goods prepared as the typhoon edged toward northern Luzon.

Class suspensions have been announced as early as Wednesday in some areas in anticipation of Ompong, which will leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Sunday.

Storm surge

PAGASA warned residents in storm surge-prone areas in Cagayan and Isabela about the possibility of six-meter high storm surge.

The bulletin said waves could reach up to 14 meters over seaboards of areas under Signal No. 3. 

PAGASA said storm surges are also possible for coastal areas under Signal No. 2, where wave heights could range from 4.1 to 14 meters over open seas are expected.

In areas under Signal No. 1, waves can get as high as 4 meters over open seas.

Fisherfolks and those with small seacrafts were advised not to venture out over seabords with TCWS and eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao.

Habagat

PAGASA expects Typhoon Ompong to continue enhancing the effects of  Southwest Monsoon or Habagat.

According to their 2 p.m. bulletin, Visayas may experience gusty winds with occasional moderate to heavy rains.

Meanwhile, scattered light to moderate to at times heavy rains can be expected over Palawan, the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao and Caraga.

"Residents in these areas, especially those living near river channels, in low-lying areas and in mountain areas, are advised to take appropriate actions against possible flooding and landslides, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction management office, and to continue monitoring updates," PAGASA said. —KBK, GMA News

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