‘Ompong’ maintains strength

Manila - More than 30 areas in the country have been placed on Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) Number 1 as Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut) continues to threaten northern Luzon while maintaining its strength Thursday afternoon, September 13.

As of 4 p.m. Thursday, the eye of Ompong was located at 575 kilometers east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, still packing maximum winds of 205 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center and gusts of up to 255 km/h.

The typhoon was forecast to move west northwest at 25 km/h, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Pagasa added that Ompong is expected to make landfall in Cagayan-Isabela area on Saturday early morning (September 15). On Friday morning, the typhoon is expected to be at 360 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora.

Areas placed under TCWS Number 1 as of 5 p.m. Thursday are Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan group of Islands, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Isabela, Benguet, Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Rizal, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon inc. Polillo Island, Northern Occidental Mindoro, Northern, Oriental Mindoro, Masbate, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Burias and Ticao island, and Northern Samar.