11 areas under Signal No. 1 as Ofel makes 3rd landfall

Eleven areas remained under Signal No. 1 as Tropical Depression Ofel made its third landfall on Wednesday afternoon, PAGASA said in its latest bulletin.

Under Tropical Wind Signal No. 1 as of 2 p.m. were:

• 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),
• Calamian Islands,
• Occidental Mindoro,
• Oriental Mindoro,
• Marinduque,Romblon,Camarines Norte,Camarines Sur,
• Catanduanes,
• Albay,
• Sorsogon,
• Masbate (including Ticao and Burias Islands)

PAGASA said center of Ofel made its third landfall in the vicinity of Burias Island, Masbate at 12 noon on Wednesday.

Ofel made its first landfall in the vicinity of Can-avid in Eastern Samar early Wednesday morning, and its second one in the vicinity of Matnog, Sorsogon at 6 a.m. 

Stranded individuals

The inclement weather has stranded over 1,000 individuals as of 12 noon on Wednesday, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.

In a report, the PCG said 1,388 passengers, as well as 682 rolling cargoes, 41 vessels and 19 motorbancas, were stranded in Southern Tagalog, Bicol and Eastern Visayas ports. 

According to the Office of Civil Defense V, most of the stranded passengers are in Albay and Sorsogon.

The center of Ofel was seen 105 kilometers west of Juban, Sorsogon at 1 p.m. It has a maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.

PAGASA said Ofel will move west-northwestward or westward over the inland seas of Southern Luzon and may pass close or over Romblon and Mindoro provinces.

Ofel is likely to emerge over the West Philippine Sea on Thursday morning and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday morning or afternoon, PAGASA said.

Land areas

The state weather bureau said Ofel will bring moderate to heavy -- with at times -- intense rains over the Bicol Region, Calabarzon, Aurora, Marinduque, Romblon and Mindoro provinces.

Meanwhile, light to moderate, with at times, heavy rains will be experienced over Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region and the rest of Central Luzon.

The southwest monsoon will also bring moderate to heavy rains over Caraga, Davao Region and Sarangani, while light to moderate, with at times, heavy rains may prevail over the rest of Mindanao.

PAGASA advised affected residents to prepare for possible flash floods or landslides during heavy or prolonged rainfall.

Moreover, strong to near gale force winds will be experienced in areas under TCWS No. 1 during the passage of Ofel, while occasional gusts associated with the northeasterly surface wind flow can be expected over Batanes, the northern and eastern portions of Cagayan, the northern portions of Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Quezon, the eastern portion of Isabela and Aurora.

Coastal waters

PAGASA said gale warning is in effect over the seaboards of Batanes and Ilocos Norte and the northern seaboard of Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands due to rough seas associated with the northeasterly surface wind flow.

PAGASA said sea travel is risky over these areas, especially for those using small sea crafts.

Further, moderate to rough seas will be experienced over the eastern seaboards of Luzon and Visayas in the next 24 hours. —KBK, GMA News