Signal No. 2 in 12 areas as Ramil makes landfall in Sorsogon

Signal No. 2 has been raised in 12 areas as Tropical Storm Ramil makes landfall over Gubat, Sorsogon.

"Ramil made landfall at around 4:10 p.m. in Gubat, Sorsogon and is predicted to make a final landfall over the vicinity of Aurora on Sunday morning or afternoon," PAGASA said.

In its 5 p.m. advisory, PAGASA raised the following Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals:

Signal No. 2 (winds of greater than 62 kph and up to 88 kph)

• The southeastern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue)
• The southern portion of Quirino (Nagtipunan, Maddela)
• The southern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castañeda)
• Northern and central portions of Aurora (Casiguran, Dilasag, Dinalungan, Baler, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, San Luis)
• Polillo Islands
• Camarines Norte
• Catanduanes
• The northern and eastern portions of Camarines Sur (Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, San Jose, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Presentacion, Sagñay, Tigaon)
• The eastern portion of Albay (Rapu-Rapu, Bacacay, City of Tabaco, Malilipot, Santo Domingo, Manito, Tiwi, Malinao)
• The northeastern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz, City of Sorsogon, Gubat)
• The northern portion of Northern Samar (Laoang, Pambujan, San Roque, Mondragon, Rosario, Lavezares, San Jose, Catarman, Bobon, Palapag)
• The northern portion of Northern Samar (Laoang, Pambujan, San Roque, Mondragon, Rosario, Lavezares, San Jose, Catarman, Bobon, Palapag)

Signal No. 1 (winds of 39 kph to 61 kph) 

• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
• The rest of Isabela
• The rest of Quirino
• The rest of Nueva Vizcaya
• Apayao
• Abra
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• The rest of Aurora
• Nueva Ecija
• The eastern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, Norzagaray, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, San Rafael, Angat)
• The eastern portion of Tarlac (Camiling, San Clemente, Santa Ignacia, Paniqui, Moncada, San Manuel, Anao, Ramos, Pura, Victoria, City of Tarlac, La Paz, Concepcion, Gerona)
• The eastern portion of Pampanga (Magalang, Arayat, Candaba)
• The northern and eastern portions of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Unisan, Gumaca, Plaridel, Agdangan, Pagbilao, Mauban, Calauag, Guinayangan, Lopez, Pitogo, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, San Narciso, Buenavista, San Francisco, San Andres, Mulanay, General Nakar, Infanta, Real, Sampaloc)
• The rest of Camarines Sur
• The rest of Albay
• The rest of Sorsogon
• Burias Island
• Ticao Island
• The rest of Northern Samar
• The northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Oras, Dolores, Maslog, Jipapad, Taft, Can-Avid)
• The northern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Calbayog City, Gandara, Santa Margarita, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, Tagapul-An, Almagro, Santo Niño, Tarangnan, Paranas, City of Catbalogan, Jiabong, Motiong)

“Although the most likely highest wind signal that will be hoisted is Wind Signal 2, the worst case scenario remains Wind Signal No. 3 due to the possibility of reaching severe tropical storm category before landfall,” PAGASA said.

Landfall over northern Quezon or southern Isabela instead of Aurora may also be possible before it exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Monday morning.

Meanwhile, the effects of Ramil and the easterlies may cause strong to gale-force gusts in areas without any wind signals.

Minimal to moderate risk of storm surge with peak heights of 1.0 to 2.0 m within 36 hours is also raised over Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Aurora, Quezon, Marinduque, Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and Samar, while a gale warning was placed in effect over the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon.

Classes were suspended in some areas on Saturday due to the expected effects of Ramil.

Residents of Catanduanes living along the coast evacuated on Saturday.

Sea travel was also suspended in some areas as PAGASA raised a gale warning. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/VAL, GMA Integrated News