Ofel to reach typhoon category before landfall

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm Ofel is forecast to intensify into a typhoon before it makes landfall over Northern or Central Luzon by tomorrow, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said yesterday.

PAGASA said Ofel was monitored 950 kilometers east of Southeastern Luzon as it moves northwestward at 35 km per hour, packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph.

It is steadily intensifying and may peak intensity just prior to landfall.

PAGASA warned there could be shifts in the track and that it is too early to determine the specific areas to be affected.

“Areas in Northern Luzon are at risk of heavy rainfall, severe wind and possibly storm surge inundation from Ofel which may cause considerable impacts,” PAGASA said in a bulletin.

Ofel could still follow a more southerly path and could affect the eastern portions of Central and Southern Luzon.

Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 4 could be the highest signal hoisted during Ofel’s passage.

Ofel entered the Philippine area of responsibility yesterday just as Nika exited PAR at 2 p.m.

Intense to torrential rains of more than 200 mm are forecast over Isabela and Cagayan by Friday afternoon.

PAGASA is monitoring another storm outside PAR, with international name Man-yi.

The cyclone, which will be named Pepito, was monitored 2,495 km east of Southeastern Luzon.

It was carrying maximum winds of 75 kph and gustiness of up to 90 kph. It could enter PAR by Friday afternoon as a typhoon.

No dead, missing

There were no reported deaths, injuries or missing persons, but Typhoon Nika still affected some 36,788 families in various parts of Northern Luzon, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.

The NDRRMC said 4,593 families or 14,971 people fled to 246 evacuation centers. Reports as of yesterday said Nika affected at least 329 barangays from 82 cities and towns in 16 Luzon provinces.

The NDRRMC said the Bicol Region was the most affected with 32,796 families or 142,935 people, followed by Central Luzon, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Cagayan Valley and the Ilocos Region.

In Aurora, 2,651 families were displaced due to Nika, the Aurora Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said. Authorities said 2,126 families are in evacuation centers while the remaining families are staying with their relatives or friends.

Flights back to normal

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) reported that Vigan, Lingayen and Baguio airports are back to normal operations but commercial flights are suspended due to cloudy weather with light to moderate winds.

Meanwhile, Laoag International Airport is back in operation as well and no canceled flights were reported.

In addition, there is no reported damage to airport facilities nor injuries to the duty personnel. However, visual flight rules from Vigan and Baguio airports is still suspended.

Furthermore, airports of Basco, Tuguegarao and Cauayan are operational, with no damage to facilities. Commercial flights have resumed but non-scheduled flights to coastal areas are suspended while general aviation is on standby.

However, Basco Airport in Batanes reported a cancellation of flights due to the strong winds. There are four canceled flights with 234 affected passengers from Manila to Basco and Clark to Basco.

No stranded passengers

Despite the presence of Ofel in the country, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said there were no reported stranded passengers in any sea port as of noon of Nov. 12.

“As of noon today, Nov. 12, the PCG Command Center monitored no stranded passengers, vessels, rolling cargoes and motorized boats in all ports nationwide,” the PCG said. “All shipping and fishing operations resume their normal operations.”

The last reported stranded passengers was at 8 a.m. of Tuesday with 111 passengers, truck drivers and cargo helpers.

Since Oct. 21, the PCG has been monitoring people temporarily staying at seaports in different parts of the country daily because of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, followed by succeeding Super Typhoon Leon and Typhoons Marce and Nika. — Rudy Santos, Michael Punongbayan, Ric Sapnu, Evelyn Macairan