(Eagle News) – Isabela was placed under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) no. 2 late Thursday evening after typhoon Ompong (international name Mangkhut) further barreled near Northern Luzon with wind speeds comparable to 2016 supertyphoon Lawin, and with a 900 kilometer diameter that even exceeded 2013 whopper typhoon Yolanda’s 600 kilometer-size.
Ompong also slowed down a bit, moving west at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour, with maximum sustained of 205 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 255 kph.
As of 1 a.m., the eye of the typhoon is located 695 km East of Infanta, Quezon.
Typhoon Ompong is still expected to make landfall in the Cagayan-Isabela area on Saturday early morning (September 15).
The country’s weather bureau said that moderate to occasionally heavy rains due to southwest monsoon are expected over Palawan, Zamboanga Peninsula and Visayas today, Friday, September 14, which will prevail in these areas until Saturday, September 15.
In Isabela which is under TCWS no. 2, wind speeds of 60 to 100 kph are expected in the next 24 hours.
At least 37 areas, including Metro Manila, Rizal and Central Luzon provinces, were placed under TCWS no. 1 in Luzon, while Northern Samar in the Visayas region was also under the same signal.
These areas in Luzon under TCWS no. 1 are the following:
Batanes
Cagayan incl. Babuyan group of Islands
Apayao
Abra
Kalinga
Mountain Province
Ifugao
Benguet
Pangasinan
La Union
Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Sur
Quirino
Nueva Vizcaya
Aurora
Pamgpanga
Bataan
Zambales
Tarlac
Nueva Ecija
Bulacan
Rizal
Metro Manila
Cavite
Batangas
Laguna
Quezon incl. Polillo Island
Northern Occidental Mindoro incl. Lubang Island
Northern Oriental Mindoro
Masbate
Marinduque
Camarines Norte
Camarines Sur
Catanduanes
Albay
Sorsogon
Burias and Ticao Island
In these areas, “winds of 30-60 kph may be expected in at least 36 hours or intermittent rains may be expected within 36 hours,” PAGASA’s latest advisory said.
PAGASA also advises those areas under signal number 2 to be ready flashlights, batteries , matches, kerosene lamps, or candles and charcoal in anticipation of power failure, and to prepare first aid kit and store ready to eat foods.
Other tips include the following:
• Keep your cell phones fully charged.
• Elevate household things in case of flooding.
• For fishing folks, secure fishing boats in safe area.
PAGASA said that the sea and coastal waters in Isabela will be dangerous to small seacrafts.
The general public especially people travelling by sea and air are cautioned to avoid unnecessary risks, it said. Outdoor activities of children should be postponed.
It also advised the public to “secure properties” because there is a possibility that the tropical cyclone warning signal in their areas will be upgraded as the storm nears.
