MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon "Ompong" (international name: Mangkhut) slammed into the Philippines largest island of Luzon with its 205 kph winds Friday evening.
State weather agency PAGASA said late Friday evening that the eye of the 900 km-wide Ompong is expected to make landfall in Cagayan between 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. after several days at full strength while slowly moving closer to the Philippines.
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Ompong continues to pack maximum winds of up to 205 kph and gustiness of up to 255 kph as it continues moving at 30 kph west northwest, PAGASA said.
Department of Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato Dela Pena said during the 11 p.m. weather briefing that "Its a bit saddening because the typhoon is not losing strength."
"We hope that all of our countrymen in the affected areas are taking precautions and have safely evacuated," he added
READ: Stunning but scary: Typhoon Ompong as seen from space
"Even before the 900 km-wide Typhoon 'Ompong' makes landfall, our country is already experiencing the strong winds and rains particularly in northern Luzon," PAGASA weather specialist Loriedin Dela Cruz said during the briefing.
Ompong was described as posing "a serious threat" by PAGASA while the eye of Ompong was seen 190 km East of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.
Cagayan and neighboring areas of Ilocos Norte, northern Isabela, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Babuyan Group of Island have all been placed under Signal No. 4 as of 10 p.m.
READ: Philippines starts evacuations along coast as super typhoon nears
Storm warning signals have been raised in the following areas:
Signal No. 4 (Winds of 171 to 220 kph within 12 hours)
- Ilocos Norte
- Cagayan
- Northern Isabela
- Apayao
- Abra
- Kalinga
- Babuyan Group of Islands
Signal No. 3 (Winds of 121 to 170 kph within 18 hours)
- Batanes
- Southern Isabela
- Ilocos Sur
- La Union
- Mountain Province
- Benguet
- Ifugao
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Quirino
- Northern Aurora
Signal No. 2 (Winds of 61 to 120 kph within 24 hours)
- Pangasinan
- Tarlac
- Nueva Ecija
- Southern Aurora
- Zambales
- Pampanga
- Bulacan
- Northern Quezon including Polillo Island
Signal No. 1 (Winds of 30 to 60 kph within 36 hours)
- Bataan
- Rizal
- Metro Manila
- Cavite
- Batangas
- Laguna
- Rest of Quezon
- Lubang Island
- Marinduque
- Camarines Norte
- Camarines Sur
- Catanduanes
- Albay
- Burias Island
Ompong is the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2018, according to PAGASA.
READ: Powerful, rotating thunderstorms surround 'Ompong' — NASA
Evacuations and class suspensions have been ordered by the government ahead of Ompong which is expected to affect over 5 million Filipinos.
Cabinet secretaries have been ordered by President Duterte to go to the areas that are expected to be worst hit by Ompong so they can directly oversee emergency response.
READ: ‘Ompong’ to affect 5.2 million people – NDRRMC
The US Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) has classified Ompong as a Super Typhoon Mangkhut on September 11, Tuesday, even before it entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday.
READ: What to do before, during, after typhoon