17 areas under Signal No. 1 as Ofel makes second landfall

Tropical Depression Ofel made its second landfall in the vicinity of Matnog, Sorsogon at around 6 a.m. on Wednesday, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

In its 8 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the following areas are under Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 1:

• Batangas,
• the southern portion of Laguna (Luisiana, Majayjay, Liliw, Nagcarlan, Rizal, San Pablo City, Calauan, Alaminos, Los Baños, Bay, Magdalena),
• the central and southern portions of Quezon (Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Buenavista, San Narciso, San Andres, Mulanay, San Francisco, Catanauan, Lopez, Calauag, Quezon, Alabat, Perez, Atimonan, Tayabas City, Mauban, Sampaloc, Lucban, Gumaca, General Luna, Macalelon, Pitogo, Unisan, Plaridel, Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Pagbilao, Lucena City, Sariaya, Candelaria, Dolores, Tiaong, San Antonio),
• Occidental Mindoro,
• Oriental Mindoro,
• Marinduque,
• Romblon,
• Camarines Norte,
• Camarines Sur,
• Catanduanes,
• Albay,
• Sorsogon, and
• Masbate (including Ticao and Burias Islands)
• Northern Samar,
• Eastern Samar,
• Samar,
• Biliran

At 7 a.m., Ofel was located at 30 kilometers southwest of Juban, Sorsogon with maximum sustained winds of 45 km per hour and gustiness of up to 55 km/h, moving West Northwestward at 25 km/h.

According to PAGASA, the projected location of Ofel on Thursday morning is at 140 km west of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.

Ofel made its first landfall at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday over Can-avid in Eastern Samar.

Stranded

As of 8 a.m., a total of 526 individuals have been stranded in Bicol due to the effects of Tropical Depression Ofel, according to the Office of Civil Defense in Region V.

Of the stranded individuals, 112 are in Albay while 414 are in Sorsogon.

Also stranded were 156 trucks, 41 light vehicles, and 17 sea vessels, the OCD V said, adding a total of 11 sea vessels were also taking shelter in various ports in BIcol.

Albay  Governor Al Francis Bichara has directed concerned officials to prepare in light of the possible effects of Ofel, according to a report of GMA stringer Mike Jaucian on Unang Balita.

All the local disaster risk reduction management offices were likewise alerted.

Residents were also discouraged to cross rivers and venture out to the sea. The provincial government is also considering implementing pre-emptive evacuation if needed, according to the report.

Areas that are prone to flooding will be closely monitored such as Oas and Libon.

Rainfall forecast

From Wednesday to Thursday morning, moderate to heavy with at times intense rains will be experienced over Bicol Region, Calabarzon, Marinduque, Romblon, and Mindoro provinces.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains, meanwhile, are expected over Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, and Biliran due to Ofel.

With the Southwest Monsoon, the same weather conditions will be experienced over most of Mindanao, according to PAGASA.

Warning

PAGASA warned of possible flooding including flashfloods and rain-induced during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards.

Regional Services Divisions may issue local thunderstorm or rainfall advisories and heavy rainfall warnings if needed, it added.

Strong to near gale-force winds are expected in areas under Signal No. 1 during the passage of the tropical depression.

Occasional gusts may be experienced over Batanes, the northern and eastern portions of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the northern portions of Apayao, Ilocos Norte, and Quezon, the eastern portion of Isabela, and Aurora, especially in coastal and mountainous areas.

These are associated with the northeasterly surface wind flow enhanced by Ofel and Tropical Storm Nangka, which is located outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, according to PAGASA.

Gale Warning is up over the seaboards of Batanes, Ilocos Norte, and the northern seaboard of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands due to rough seas (2.8 to 4.0 m) associated with the northeasterly surface wind flow.

“Sea travel is risky over these areas, especially for those using small seacrafts,” PAGASA warned.

Due to Ofel, moderate to rough seas (2.1 to 3.7 m) will be experienced over the eastern seaboards of Luzon and Visayas in the next 24 hours, especially in areas under Signal No. 1.

“Those with small seacrafts are advised not to venture out to sea over these areas,” PAGASA added. —KBK, GMA News