More areas placed under Signal No. 3 after Ambo landfall

Violent winds and heavy to intense rains are expected over the northern portion of Eastern Samar and nearby provinces as nine areas have been placed under signal number 3 following Typhoon Ambo's landfall, PAGASA said Thursday.

Ambo (international name: Vongfong) earlier made landfall in San Policarpo in Eastern Samar at 12:15 p.m.

According to the 2 p.m. Severe Weather Bulletin, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) no. 3 has been hoisted over these areas:

• Sorsogon
• Albay
• Masbate, including Ticao and Burias Islands
• Catanduanes
• The southern portion of Camarines Sur (Cabusao, Libmanan, Pasacao, Pamplona, Canaman, Magarao, Bombon, Calabanga, Camaligan, Gainza, San Fernando, Milaor, Naga, Tinambac, Siruma, Pili, Goa, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Minalabac, Caramoan, Presentacion, Bula, Ocampo, Tigaon, San Jose, Balatan, Nabua, Baao, Sagnay, Bato, Nabua, Iriga, Buhi)
• Northern Samar
• The northern portion of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Arteche, Maslog, Dolores, Oras, San Policarpio, Can-avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, Borongan City, Maydolong)
• The northern portion of Samar (Calbayog City, Sta. Margarita, Gandara, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Catbalogan, Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas, Tarangnan, San Sebastian, Hinabangan)
• Biliran

Areas under TCWS No. 2 are:

• Camarines Norte
• The rest of Camarines Sur
• The rest of Quezon
• Marinduque
• The northernmost portion of Leyte (Calubian, San Isidro, Tabango, Leyte, Capoocan, Carigara, Barugo, San Miguel, Babatngon, Tunga, Alangalang, Sta. Fe, Palo, Tacloban City, Jaro)
• The rest of Samar
• The rest of Eastern Samar

Meanwhile, the following areas are under TCWS no. 1:

• Aurora
• The southern portion of Nueva Ecija (General Mamerto Natividad, Palayan City, Cabanatuan, Santa Rosa, Jaen, San Isidro, San Antonio, Cabiao, Bongabon, Gabaldon, General Tinio, Laur, San Leonardo, Peñaranda, Gapan City)
• Bulacan
• Metro Manila
• Cavite
• Laguna
• Batangas
• Rizal
• The rest of Quezon
• Romblon
• Bataan
• Pampanga
• The rest of the northern portion of Leyte (Villaba, Kananga, Matag-ob, Palompon, Ormoc, Merida, Isabel, Ormoc City, Albuena, Pastrana, Dagami, Tanauan, Tabontabon, Tolosa, Barauen, Julita, Dulag)
• The northeastern portion of Capis (Pilar)
• The northeastern portio nof Iloilo (Carles, Balasan, Estancia, Batad), and Northern Cebu (Medelin, Daanbantayan, Madridejos, Bantayan, Santa Fe)

At 1 p.m. Thursday, PAGASA said the eye of Ambo was located in the vicinity of Oras, Eastern Samar packing maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 190 kph.

Gov't prepared for Ambo

In Malacañang, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the government is prepared for the typhoon.

In a televised briefing, Roque said there is enough supply of relief goods and evacuation centers have been set up.

He also said that social distancing will be implemented in evacuation centers }on a per family basis" as a precautionary measure against the spread of COVID-19.

"Iyan naman po ay pinaghandaan na ng mga awtoridad at sanay na naman po tayo pagdating sa contingencies dahil po sa mga bagyo," Roque said.

Heavy rainfall outlook

The weather bureau said Ambo may bring heavy to intense rains over Samar Provinces, Masbate, Sorsogon, and Catanduanes as well as moderate to heavy with, at times, intense rains over Albay Camarines Sur, and the rest of Eastern Visayas.

On Friday, PAGASA said it may bring heavy to intense rains over Bicol Region as well as moderate to heavy with, at times, intense rains over Northern Samar, Quezon, Aurora, Marinduque, and Romblon.

PAGASA advised residents to take precautionary measures and coordinate with local disaster risk reduction management offices as flooding and landslides may occur in susceptible areas.

Storm Surge outlook

PAGASA said a storm surge of 2.0 to 4.0 meters may be experienced over the coastal areas of Northern Samar, Eastern Samar (east coast), Samar (west coast), Sorsogon, Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Quezon, and Aurora within 24 hours.

"Along with large swells, this storm surge may cause potentially life-threatening coastal inundation," it said. — RSJ, GMA News