Pagasa: Typhoon Ompong very intense, destructive
WEATHER forecasters advised residents in eastern and northern Luzon to evacuate now as "very intense and destructive" Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut) is moving closer to the country and may destroy houses and topple trees and electric posts particularly in Cagayan-Isabela ar ea.
The typhoon, as of 4 p.m. Friday, September 14, was located at 340 kilometers east northeast of Casiguran, Aurora, still packing maximum winds of 205 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 255 kph. It accelerated Friday afternoon, moving northwest at 30 kph.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Ompong is expected to make landfall in Cagayan-Isabela area early morning of Saturday (September 15), around 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. Storm signal number 4 has been raised over Cagayan and northern Isabela.
"Sa ngayon na malayo pa yung mata, binabayo na yung mga bayan sa northeast Luzon. If masusustain yung speed ng bagyo, yung lakas ng hangin mabilis na mararamdaman nila. Ang pinakamalakas ay nandoon sa eye wall," said Renito Paciente, assistant weather services chief of Pagasa.
(Towns in northeast Luzon are already experiencing the effects of the typhoon. If Ompong will maintain its speed, residents in these areas will experience strong winds fast; the strongest is in areas located in the typhoon's eye wall.)
Dr. Vicente Malano, Pagasa administrator, advised the residents in areas expected to be battered by Ompong to evacuate now and not wait for Pagasa's advisory on what specific area the typhoon will hit land.
"Wag na nating hintayin kung saan exactly maglalandfall ang mata. Kahit na wala pang landfall, malalakas na po ang hangin na mararanasan before landfall. Malaki po yung bagyo," he said.
(Don't wait for Pagasa's advisory on where exactly the typhoon will make landfall. Even before its landfall, winds are already strong. The typhoon is so big.)
Ompong has a diameter of 900 kilometers. Its eye has 88-kilometer diameter, said Pagasa.