People react as large waves break along a seawall ahead of the expected landfall of Super Typhoon Pepito (also known internationally as Man-yi), in Legaspi City, Albay province on November 16, 2024. A super typhoon sweeping towards the Philippines on November 16 was intensifying and could have a "potentially catastrophic" impact, the state weather forecaster warned, with millions of people at risk from storm surges. - Photo: AFP
OLONGAPO CITY, (Philippines): Super Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi) has kept its strength as it continues to threaten Aurora province and Northern Quezon, according to the state weather bureau.
Around 907 families or 2,844 individuals were evacuated anew in Aurora as Super Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi) aims to make its landfall in the southern part of the province on Sunday (Nov 17).
Based on the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (Pagasa) 11am bulletin, Pepito’s movement increased from 15 kilometers per hour (kph) to 20 kph.
It was last spotted 120 kilometers east-southeast of Baler Aurora, carrying maximum sustained winds of 185 kph with gusts of up to 230 kph.
Pepito is forecast to make landfall in the vicinity of Aurora on Sunday afternoon.
“Afterwards, it will cross the northern portion of Central Luzon and the southern portion of Northern Luzon via the upland regions of the Sierra Madre, Caraballo and Cordillera Central between this afternoon and evening,” it added.
The state weather agency also said the super typhoon will likely exit the landmass of Luzon by Sunday night.
Although Pagasa already lifted Signal No. 5 over Calaguas Islands, three places in Polillo Islands are now under the same wind signal — Patnanungan, Jomalig and now Burdeos.
Meanwhile, Elson Egargue, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO), said they conducted pre-emptive evacuation in Baler, Dinalungan, Dingalan and Dipaculao as early as Friday (Nov 15).
Data from the PDRRMO showed that 2,835 of the evacuees are staying in evacuation centers, while nine are with their relatives who are living in safer areas.
The central and southern portions of the province (Dingalan, San Luis, Maria Aurora, Baler, Dipaculao and Dinalungan) are under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4.
The rest of Aurora is under Signal No. 3, the state weather bureau said in its Sunday morning report.
Due to the combined effects of Typhoon Nika (international name: Toraji) and Ofel (international name: Usagi), six structures intended to protect the communities from flooding were totally destroyed.
These structures amount to more than P320 million.
43 houses were destroyed and 867 homes were damaged.
Thousand of residents were also evacuated during the onslaught of the two typhoons. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
