Opong regains typhoon strength ahead of PAR exit

Seven areas are still under a wind signal as Opong has regained typhoon strength while moving away from the Philippines.

PAGASA's 5 a.m. Saturday bulletin said that the following areas are under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1:

• the western portion of Pangasinan (Agno, Burgos, Dasol, Infanta, Mabini);
• Zambales;
• Bataan;
• the western portion of Cavite (Corregidor Island, Ternate, Maragondon, Magallanes);
• the western portion of Batangas (Nasugbu, Lian, Calatagan, Tuy, Balayan);
• the northern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Paluan, Mamburao, Abra de Ilog) including Lubang Islands; and
• Calamian Islands.

At 4 a.m., Opong was located 505 km west of Indang, Cavite, carrying maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 150 km/h.

Moving west northwestward at 30 km/h, Opong is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Saturday morning or noon.

"Opong is forecast to intensify further as it approaches northern Vietnam," PAGASA said.

Metro Manila, the Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, and MIMAROPA will see cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms due to the trough of Opong. 

Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, and Zamboanga Peninsula will also experience cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms because of the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat). Localized thunderstorms will prevail in the rest of the country.

The Southwest Monsoon enhanced by Opong will bring strong to gale-force gusts over Luzon. 

Ten persons were reported dead amid the onslaught of Opong, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said on Friday. 

OCD officer-in-charge Bernardo Alejandro told Super Radyo dzBB that the reported fatalities were logged in the Bicol Region and in Eastern Visayas. 

At least 1.2 million individuals have been affected by the typhoon, the OCD official said.

Classes were suspended in some areas due to the effects of Opong. —VBL/KG, GMA Integrated News