Aurora bracing for anticipated Pepito landfall

Aurora province is now preparing for a possible landfall of Super Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-Yi) over its southern portion on Sunday afternoon, its provincial disaster risk reduction and management office (PDRRMO) said.

Citing state weather bureau PAGASA, Aurora PDRRMO head Engineer Elson Egargue said that Pepito may make a landfall over the province by 2 p.m. Sunday.

“Kahapon pa po ay nagpalikas na kami ng aming mga kababayan na nasa dalampasigan o ‘yung mga nasa landslide-prone [areas],” Egargue said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(Yesterday we evacuated our residents from the coast or those in landslide-prone areas.)

Currently, he said 13,341 individuals or 4,089 families were transferred to evacuation centers in various municipalities.

Tourism activities in Aurora were also suspended due to Pepito. Tourist police were also deployed to monitor surfing sites.

Egargue advised residents to be cautious, especially within the day, as Pepito is expected to pass through the province.

“According sa PAGASA, nasa [the super typhoon will bring rain amounting to] 200 millimeter ang kanyang ibibigay na ulan. Intense to torrential [rain],” he said.

The central and southern portions of Aurora (Dingalan, San Luis, Maria Aurora, Baler, Dipaculao, Dinalungan) were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 as of 8 a.m. on Sunday.

The rest of Albay, meanwhile, was under TCWS No. 3.

According to PAGASA, Pepito will pass close or over Polillo Islands by late Sunday morning, before making landfall over northern Quezon or central or southern Aurora between noon and afternoon.
—RF, GMA Integrated News