Ofel Nearing Super Typhoon Category, Signal No. 4 Up In Some Areas Of Cagayan
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 was hoisted over the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Santa Teresita) due to Typhoon Ofel.
Image from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
Typhoon Ofel further intensified and is nearing super typhoon category as of today, Nov. 14, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
The center of Ofel was estimated at 215 kilometers east of Echague, Isabela with a maximum sustained winds of 165 km per hour and gustiness of up to 205 kph.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 was hoisted over the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Santa Teresita).
Signal No. 3 was raised in the northwestern, central, and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan (Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, Santa Praxedes, Pamplona, Abulug, Ballesteros, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Lal-Lo, Allacapan, Gattaran, Baggao, Peñablanca, Lasam, Alcala, Amulung, Iguig, Santo Niño, Buguey) including Babuyan Islands, the northeastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, San Pablo, Divilacan, Palanan), and the northern portion of Apayao (Flora, Santa Marcela, Luna, Pudtol, Calanasan).
Signal No. 2: Batanes, the rest of Cagayan, the northwestern and southeastern portions of Isabela (Cabagan, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, Tumauini, Ilagan City, Delfin Albano, Quezon, San Mariano, Dinapigue, Quirino, Mallig), the rest of Apayao, the northern portion of Kalinga (Pinukpuk, Rizal, City of Tabuk, Balbalan), the northeastern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Malibcong), and the northern and central portions of Ilocos Norte (Carasi, Vintar, Burgos, Adams, Pagudpud, Bangui, Dumalneg, Pasuquin, Bacarra, Piddig, Nueva Era, Solsona, Dingras, Marcos, Banna, Sarrat, Laoag City, San Nicolas, City of Batac, Paoay).
Signal No. 1: The rest of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Abra, the rest of Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, the northern portion of Benguet (Bokod, Mankayan, Kapangan, Atok, Kabayan, Kibungan, Bakun, Buguias, Tublay), the rest of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, the northern portion of La Union (Luna, Sudipen, Bangar, Santol, San Gabriel, Bagulin, Bacnotan, Balaoan, San Juan), and the northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler, San Luis).
Meanwhile, Pepito (international name Man-yi) was forecast to enter the Philippine area of responsibility as a typhoon today. It was monitored 1,965 km east of Eastern Visayas and was forecast to move westward. It may make landfall over the eastern coast of Luzon by Friday, Nov. 15, or Saturday, Nov. 16.
There could still be shifts in the track forecast of Pepito, but PAGASA said that most areas in Luzon face considerable impacts due to heavy rainfall, severe wind and possible storm surge inundation.
Evacuees
Thousands of residents remain housed in various evacuation centers in provinces from at least five affected regions, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
The NDRRMC said both tropical cyclones affected a total of 52,551 families or 195,532 people. Of the number, 9,275 families or 28,104 people are still taking shelter in 562 evacuation centers across the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol Region and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
There have been no reported deaths so far but the NDRRMC said it has received and is validating reports of two persons injured in Central Luzon.
Due to Typhoons Nika and Ofel, some 325 houses were reported damaged in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and CAR.
In Cagayan Valley, almost 13,000 families have fled from their homes because of the onslaught of Nika, according to figures from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Of the number, some 7,781 families have taken refuge in evacuation centers while 5,074 families are staying with relatives or friends.
Meanwhile, rapid assessment placed affected homes in the region at 702 – 53 destroyed and 649 damaged.
Dams release water
Three dams in Luzon continued releasing water amid the threat of Ofel.
As of 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, two gates of Ambuklao Dam in Benguet remained open at one meter and began releasing water at 165.83 cubic meter per second (cms) after it reached 751.58 meters or just 0.42 meters below its normal high water level of 752 meters.
Meanwhile, three gates of Binga Dam in Benguet were opened at 1.3 meters and releasing 178.93 cms after it reached 574.05 or 0.95 meters below its normal high water level of 575 meters.
On the other hand, two gates of Magat Dam in Isabela were opened at three meters and releasing 805.56 cms after it reached 188.56 meters or 4.44 meters below its normal high water level of 193 meters.
Dam officials decided to close the gates of San Roque Dam in Pangasinan as its water elevation reached 278.42 meters, while Angat Dam dropped by 0.10 meters after it reached 201.63 meters.
Ipo Dam in Bulacan reached 100.17 meters, La Mesa Dam in Quezon City reached 79.55 meters, Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija reached 210.16 meters and Caliraya Dam in Laguna dropped to 287.13 meters.
Airports ready
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) expressed readiness as Nika left the PAR and Ofel further intensified.
CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio said prior to the storm’s landfall, area center managers were advised to monitor PAGASA’s weather bulletin.
Tuguegarao airport has reported cancellation of non-scheduled flights to coastal areas, though the airport is still operational – two flights 5J 504/505 Manila- Tuguegarao-Manila successfully landed.
For its part, the Department of Public Works and Highways said nine national roads remain impassable as of Wednesday morning due to landslide, soil collapse and flooding. Ten road sections in CAR and three roads in Region 2 have been cleared and reopened to the motoring public.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard has sent augmentation teams to assist their tired personnel conducting search and rescue and relief operations in typhoon-affected areas in their District Northeastern Luzon.
The District Northeastern Luzon – consisting of Cagayan, Batanes, Aurora, Calayaan and Isabela provinces – has been bearing the brunt of the recent weather disturbances, namely Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, Typhoons Marce, Nika and Ofel.
Leading telco Globe Telecom said it has prepositioned personnel, supplies and emergency equipment in areas on the path of Ofel.
Globe also said it continues to provide support for communities affected by earlier storms. Globe deployed Libreng Tawag, Libreng Charging, and Libreng WiFi stations in 11 locations in Northern Luzon to help affected residents stay in touch with their loved ones.
