Pepito remains 'potentially catastrophic' as Signal No. 5 up in two Bicol areas

Catanduanes and part of Camarines Sur are now under Signal No. 5 due to Super Typhoon Pepito as weather bureau PAGASA maintained its warning of a "potentially catastrophic and life-threatening situation" at the northeastern part of Bicol Region.

According to PAGASA's 5 p.m. bulletin on Saturday, Pepito was last seen at 120 kms east of Virac, Catanduanes. It packed maximum sustained winds of 195 kph and gusts of up to 240 kph.

Typhoon-force winds, with speeds of 185 kph or higher within the next 12 hours, were reported in the following areas currently under Signal No. 5:

• Catanduanes
• northeastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, Presentacion)

Signal No. 4 was hoisted in the following areas, which are expected to experience typhoon-force winds with speeds of 118 kph to 184 kph in the next 12 hours:

• Camarines Norte
• Northern and southeastern portions of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Goa, San Jose, Tigaon, Sagñay, Calabanga)
• Northeastern portion of Albay (City of Tabaco, Tiwi, Malinao, Malilipot, Bacacay, Rapu-Rapu)

Storm-force winds, with speeds of 89 kph to 117 within 18 hours, were forecast in these areas under Signal No. 3:

• Polillo Islands
• Northern and eastern portions of mainland Quezon (Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Buenavista, Lopez, Quezon, Perez, Alabat, Gumaca, Plaridel, Atimonan, Mauban, Real, General Nakar, Infanta)
• Rest of Camarines Sur
• Rest of Albay
• Northern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz, City of Sorsogon, Gubat, Barcelona, Castilla, Casiguran, Pilar, Donsol)
• Eastern and central portions of Northern Samar (Palapag, Laoang, Mapanas, Gamay, Lapinig, Catubig, Pambujan, Las Navas, Biri, Bobon, Catarman, Mondragon, San Roque, Silvino Lobos, Lope de Vega, San Jose)
• Northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Oras, Jipapad)

Meanwhile, Signal No. 2 is in effect over the following areas as winds of 62 kph to 88 kph were expected within 24 hours:

• Southern portion of Isabela (Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Buenavista, Lopez, Quezon, Perez, Alabat, Gumaca, Plaridel, Atimonan, Mauban, Real, General Nakar, Infanta)
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• Aurora
• Nueva Ecija
• Bulacan
• Tarlac
• Pampanga
• Zambales
• Bataan
• Metro Manila
• Cavite
• Rizal
• Rest of Quezon
• Laguna
• Marinduque
• Rest of Sorsogon
• Burias Island
• Ticao Island
• Central portion of Eastern Samar (Dolores, Maslog, Can-Avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, City of Borongan)
• Northern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, Calbayog City, Santa Margarita, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Tarangnan, Motiong, Gandara, Jiabong, City of Catbalogan, Paranas, Hinabangan, San Sebastian, Pagsanghan)
• Rest of Northern Samar

Lastly, the following areas under Signal No. 1 may experience winds of 39 kph to 61 kph within the next 36 hours:

• Mainland Cagayan
• Rest of Isabela
• Apayao
• Kalinga
• Abra
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Rest of Pangasinan
• Rest of Zambales
• Batangas
• Northern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Sablayan, Santa Cruz, Mamburao, Abra de Ilog, Paluan) including Lubang Islands
• Northern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Naujan, Baco, Victoria, Socorro, Pinamalayan, Bansud, Gloria, Pola, City of Calapan, Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay)
• Romblon
• Rest of Masbate
• Rest of Eastern Samar
• Rest of Samar
• Biliran
• Northern and central portions of Leyte (Tunga, Pastrana, San Miguel, Matag-Ob, Tolosa, Palo, Calubian, Leyte, Mayorga, Julita, Carigara, Babatngon, Dagami, Jaro, San Isidro, Santa Fe, Albuera, Villaba, La Paz, Palompon, Macarthur, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Merida, Ormoc City, Isabel, Dulag, Capoocan, Alangalang, Burauen, Tabango, Tacloban City, Kananga, Barugo, Abuyog, Javier, City of Baybay, Mahaplag)
• Northeastern portion of Southern Leyte (Silago)
• Northernmost portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin) including Bantayan Islands
• Northernmost portion of Iloilo (Carles)
• Northern portion of Dinagat Islands (Loreto, Tubajon)

A gale warning has also been raised over the eastern and southern seaboards of Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Visayas.

Super Typhoon Pepito is likely to make landfall in the vicinity of Catanduanes on Saturday evening or Sunday morning. However, PAGASA said the landfall location may still change.

"Considering the limits of the forecast confidence cone, a landfall scenario over the eastern coast of Camarines Sur or Albay during the same time frame (if it moves slightly south of forecast track), or along the eastern coast of Quezon or Aurora tomorrow afternoon (Sunday) or evening remains [and is] not ruled out," the advisory read.

"It must be emphasized that heavy rainfall, severe winds, and storm surge may still be experienced in localities outside the landfall point and the forecast confidence cone," it added.

Pepito is nearing its peak intensity, PAGASA said. Although it may begin to maintain or slightly decrease intensity in the coming hours, PAGASA said it may resume intensifying prior to passage over Catanduanes.

"PEPITO will likely make landfall over Catanduanes as a super typhoon at or near peak intensity, and as a super typhoon or typhoon over the Quezon-Aurora area. Significant weakening will occur during the passage of PEPITO over mainland Luzon tomorrow, but it will likely remain as a typhoon until it reaches the West Philippine Sea," PAGASA said.

The weather disturbance is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Monday.

"Considering these developments, the public and disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned are advised to take all necessary measures to protect life and property. Persons living in areas identified to be highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards are advised to follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials," PAGASA advised.

Meanwhile, Tropical Depression Ofel was last seen at 195 kms northwest of Itbayat, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 45 kph and gustiness of up to 60 kph.

Ofel is currently not affecting any parts of the country, and is about to make landfall in Southern Taiwan. — VDV, GMA Integrated News