PAGASA: 'Ofel' makes landfall over Romblon; NCR, 36 other areas under storm signals

After crossing parts of Mindanao and Visayas, Tropical Storm Ofel (Son-Tinh) made landfall over Masbate and started crossing Sibuyan Island in Romblon, even as Metro Manila and 36 other areas were placed under storm signals Thursday morning.

 

PAGASA forecaster Chris Perez also said Tropical Storm Ofel may soon start to break up, after making landfall and interacting with Philippine land masses.

 

"Tumama ito sa southwestern part ng Masbate at kasalukuyang binabaybay ang Sibuyan Island ng Romblon (It has made landfall over the southwestern part of Masbate and is crossing Sibuyan Island in Romblon)," Perez said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

He said that with Ofel's present speed and direction, it may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Saturday.

 

Perez also said it is possible Tropical Storm Ofel may start breaking up, after interacting with Philippine land masses.

 

"Once nag-interact with land mass sa bansa, ang sirkulasyon may tendency mabasag (Once it interacts with land masses, its circulation tends to break up)," he said.

 

As of 4 a.m. Thursday, PAGASA said Ofel was estimated to be over Sibuyan Island in Romblon, with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

 

It was moving west-northwest at 20 kph and is expected to be 270 km west of Metro Manila Friday morning.

 

By Saturday morning it is expected to be 600 km west of Iba, Zambales. Perez said it would be out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility by this time.

 

PAGASA said Ofel may bring rainfall of 5 to 25 mm per hour (moderate to intense) within its 450-km diameter.

 

Storm signals

 

At least 14 areas were under Storm Signal No. 2. These include:

 

- Masbate

- Ticao Islands

- Romblon

- Oriental Mindoro

- Occidental Mindoro

- Lubang Island

- Marinduque

- Batangas

- Aklan

- Antique

- Iloilo

- Capiz

- Guimaras

- Northern part of Negros Occidental

 

At least 23 areas are under Signal No. 1. They include:

 

- Metro Manila

- Bataan

- Zambales

- Pampanga

- Bulacan

- Rizal

- Cavite

- Laguna

- Southern part of Quezon province

- Camarines Norte

- Camarines Sur

- Catanduanes

- Albay

- Sorsogon

- Burias Island

- Calamian Group of Islands

- Cuyo Island

- Leyte provinces

- Samar provinces

- Cebu

- Camotes Island

- Rest of Negros Occidental

- Negros Oriental

 

"Residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signals 2 and 1 are alerted against possible flash floods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas under signal 2 are alerted of possible storm surges," PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. advisory.

 

"Batangas, Lubang Island, Mindoro provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, Masbate including Ticao Island, Panay Island, Guimaras and the Northern part of Negros Occidental will experience stormy weather with rough to very rough seas," PAGASA said.

 

It added Metro Manila, Bataan, Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, the rest of Calabarzon, the rest of Bicol region, Calamian and Cuyo islands, Burias island and the southern part of Quezon Province, Eastern Visayas, Cebu, Camotes Island and the rest of Negros provinces will have rain with gusty winds with moderate to rough seas.

 

The rest of the country will be cloudy with moderate to heavy rain showers or thunderstorms which may trigger flash floods and landslides.

 

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the east to northeast will prevail over the rest of Luzon and from the southeast to south over the rest of Visayas and Mindanao.

 

The coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

 

Also, strong to gale-force winds associated with Tropical Storm Ofel and the northeast monsoon may affect the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon and the seaboards of Northern Luzon.

 

"Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," PAGASA said. — ELR, GMA News