Pre-emptive evacuations ordered in parts of Luzon, Visayas amid Ofel, Pepito

Several regions in Luzon and Visayas were told to pre-emptively evacuate their residents as early as Friday following the threats brought by tropical cyclones Ofel and Man-Yi, an Office of Civil Defense official said on Thursday.

“That would start tomorrow, 15 November 2024 kung saan meron tayong window hanggang Sabado. So starting tomorrow po ang order ng ating Secretary of National Defense na mag-pre-emptive evacuation na,” said OCD Operations Service Director Cesar Idio in a press briefing.

(That would start tomorrow, 15 November 2024 where we will have a window period until Saturday. The Secretary of National Defense ordered the pre-emptive evacuation tomorrow.)

Among the regions ordered to evacuate their residents starting Friday are Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and Central Visayas.

“Itong mga ito ay inutusan din na siguraduhin na ma-ensure ang mga replenishment and pre-positioning of resources during this window,” said Idio.

(We also ordered these areas to ensure that there will be replenishment and pre-positioning of resources during this window.)

Ofel has weakened into a typhoon on Thursday afternoon, but the Babuyan Islands, the eastern portions of mainland Cagayan, and the northeastern portion of Isabela are still under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4.

Meanwhile, Man-Yi is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday evening and will be named Pepito. —RF, GMA Integrated News