The wrath of Super Typhoon #PepitoPH was felt across Catanduanes and the Northeastern portion of Camarines Sur evening on Saturday, November 16, 2024, leaving residents grappling with storm surges and power outages.
In Barangay Sta. Cruz, Virac, Catanduanes, Belle Dimple Belangel-Casarino, a resident, shared a live video on social media as #PepitoPH was nearing Catanduanes.
Casarino said several neighboring homes were washed away.
"Andun po asawa ko sa bahay bumalik wash-out na po bahay ng ibang kapitbahay namen... ung bahay namen pinasok na po ng dagat," she said.
They have sought refuge at a hotel.
"Sobrang lakas po ng hangin. Dinig po yung sipol ng hangin kahit nasa loob na ang sealed na mga pinto and mga bintana," Erwin Panti Olarte, another resident, added.
A province-wide power shutdown occurred earlier at 2 p.m.
Mobile signal in Virac remains intact as of this writing, but several municipalities in northern Catanduanes, including Viga, Caramoran, Gigmoto and Pandan, are without service.
"Pinapaisi an gabos na sabi kan PDRRMO (Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council), dai nin signal sa munisipyo nin Viga, Bagamanoc, Pandan, Caramoran, Gigmoto, asin Panganiban," Catanduanes Vice Governor Peter Cua announced.
As of the 8 p.m. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) bulletin, Catanduanes was placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 5.
The situation in other parts of Bicol also worsened.
In Barangay Saripongpong, Lagonoy, Camarines Sur, the weather took a drastic turn around 7 p.m., with strong winds and rain persisting throughout the night, according to Hecyl Brojan, a resident.
"Nag-start yung lakas ng hangin at ulan bandang 7 p.m. 'til now," she said.
The northeastern part of Camarines Sur, Caramoan, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, and Presentacion, was also placed under Signal No. 5.
In Barangay Ili-Centro, Caramoan, Camarines Sur, winds grew so strong that they began to whistle, as resident Bianca Alexa Sacabon noted.
"As of this time po mas lumakas yung hangin at ulan pa, 'yung parang nagwi-whistle na yung hangin 'pag sobra lakas," she said.
Power was cut off in the area at around 5 p.m.
As of 7:00 p.m., the center of #PepitoPH was located over the coastal waters of Gigmoto, Catanduanes.
PAGASA expects #PepitoPH to continue its west-northwest path, potentially crossing Polillo Islands, Aurora, or Nothern Quezon.
