3 areas still under Signal No. 3 as Odette moves towards Palawan

Three areas in Luzon and the Visayas remained under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 as Typhoon Odette moved towards Palawan, state bureau PAGASA said Friday.

As of 10 a.m., Odette was located 90 kilometers South Southwest of Cuyo, Palawan packing maximum sustained winds of 155 km per hour, gustiness of up to 215 km/h, central pressure of 955 hPa, and strong winds extending outwards up to 480 km from the center, according to PAGASA's 11 a.m. update.

The typhoon was moving Westward at 25 km/h, it added.

PAGASA said the following areas are under TCWS No. 3:

• northern portion of Palawan (El Nido, Taytay, Araceli, Dumaran, Roxas, San Vicente, Puerto Princesa City) including Cagayancillo and Cuyo Islands
• southern portion of Iloilo (Tigbauan, Leon, Tubungan, Guimbal, Igbaras, Miagao, San Joaquin)
• the southern portion of Antique (Patnongon, San Remigio, San Jose, Belison, Sibalom, Hamtic, Tobias Fornier, Anini-Y)

Under TCWS No. 2 are the following:

• southern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Bansud, Bulalacao, Roxas, Bongabong, Mansalay)
• southern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Rizal, San Jose, Magsaysay, Calintaan, Sablayan)
• western portion of Romblon (Looc, Ferrol, Santa Fe, San Jose, Alcantara, Santa Maria, Odiongan, San Agustin, San Andres, Calatrava)
• central portion of Palawan (Narra, Sofronio Española, Quezon, Aborlan, Rizal, Brooke's Point) including Kalayaan and Calamian Islands
• Aklan
• Capiz
• the rest of Iloilo
• the rest of Antique
• Guimaras,
• northern and central portions of Negros Oriental (Pamplona, City of Tanjay, Santa Catalina, Amlan, San Jose, Sibulan, Valencia, Dauin, Dumaguete City, Bacong, Zamboanguita, Siaton)
• Negros Occidental

Meanwhile, TCWS No. 1 was hoisted over the following areas:

• Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands
• Marinduque
• southern portion of Quezon (San Antonio, Tiaong, Candelaria, Sariaya, Dolores, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Padre Burgos, Atimonan, Agdangan, Unisan, Gumaca, Plaridel, Pitogo, Lopez, Buenavista, Catanauan, General Luna, Macalelon, Mulanay, San Narciso, San Andres, San Francisco, City of Tayabas)
• rest of Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands
• rest of Oriental Mindoro
• rest of Palawan
• rest of Romblon
• Batangas
• Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands
• Bohol
• Biliran
• western portion of Leyte (Isabel, Calubian, Albuera, Matalom, Tabango, Merida, City of Baybay, Villaba, Kananga, Ormoc City, Carigara, Inopacan, Matag-Ob, Palompon, San Isidro, Hilongos, Jaro, Leyte, Capoocan, Bato, Burauen, Tunga, Hindang)
• western portion of Southern Leyte (Tomas Oppus, Bontoc, Malitbog, Padre Burgos, Macrohon, City of Maasin, Limasawa)
• Siquijor
• northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte (Baliguian, Gutalac, Kalawit, Labason, Liloy, Tampilisan, Salug, Godod, Bacungan, Sindangan, Siayan, Jose Dalman, Manukan, Pres. Manuel A. Roxas, Katipunan, Sergio Osmeña Sr., Dipolog City, Polanco, Piñan, Mutia, Dapitan City, La Libertad, Sibutad, Rizal)
• northern portion of Misamis Occidental (Don Victoriano Chiongbian, Aloran, Oroquieta City, Lopez Jaena, Concepcion, Sapang Dalaga, Calamba, Baliangao, Plaridel

Effects

Disaster officials have so far reported one fatality -- a 54-year-old woman in Iloilo City whose house was destroyed by bamboo that was toppled by the typhoon.

A total of 332, 855 people or 83, 026 families were preemptive evacuated due to the threat of Odette, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). At least 41,434 individuals or 11,859 families were evacuated.

Verified video shots and photos posted on social media, meanwhile, showed flooded streets, trees either toppled or swaying violently, and damaged infrastructures.

Scores of flights have been cancelled and dozens of ports temporarily closed as PAGASA warned several meter-high storm surges could cause "life-threatening flooding" in low-lying coastal areas.

Odette (international name: Rai) is hitting the Philippines late in the typhoon season, with most cyclones developing between July and October.

The Philippines -- ranked as one of the world's most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change -- is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons every year, which typically wipe out harvests, homes and infrastructure in already impoverished areas.

The deadliest cyclone on record in the Philippines was Super Typhoon Haiyan, which left more than 7,300 people dead or missing in 2013.

Rainfall warning

Meanwhile, PAGASA said heavy to torrential rains can be experienced over Western Visayas, Palawan including Calamian, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo Islands, and Negros Oriental.

Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains are expected over the Bicol Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Quezon, and the rest of MIMAROPA.

Meanwhile, light to moderate with at times heavy rains will be experienced in Cagayan Valley, the rest of CALABARZON, Cordillera Administrative Region, Aurora, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Sur, and the rest of Visayas.

Based on its forecast, PAGASA said Odette will make another landfall over the northern or central portion of Palawan Friday afternoon, re-emerge over the West Philippine Sea evening, and cross Kalayaan Islands Saturday.

Odette is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility Saturday morning or early afternoon, PAGASA said. —KBK, GMA News