Super Typhoon Ofel moves north of Luzon, causing significant danger from highly destructive winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding. Widespread serious damage is expected, with flooding and landslides in affected areas. Super Typhoon Ofel may also reach the Babuyan Islands late Thursday or early Friday. Typhoon Ofel is expected to intensify into a super typhoon and could affect the province of Cagayan. It is anticipated that Ofel will make landfall on the eastern Cagayan or northern Isabela later today.
PAGASA raises signal No. 5 over the province of Cagayan as the intensity of Typhoon Ofel strengthens. After making landfall on Babuyan, it will move northwest, possibly weakening before moving to southern Luzon. At the same time, the typical storm Man-yi from southern Japan may bring moist air to the Philippine atmosphere and result in localized showers, creating the local name 'Pepito' on Thursday evening. This typical storm may also strengthen into a super typhoon and make landfall in Bicol on Saturday and central Luzon on Sunday.
In the wake of Typhoon Ofel, also known as Usagi, it has reached land in the Philippines, bringing with it strong winds and regular rains. PAGASA reported that residents are facing difficult times due to the threat of strong storm surges of up to 3 meters in coastal areas or exposed areas in several provinces of the country. Philippine authorities announced a state of calamity and conducted a wide-scale evacuation, affecting more than 28,000 people in anticipation of the storm's arrival, and also provided assistance to over 4,000 people in evacuation centers.
The Philippine meteorology office reported that wind speeds in the storm reached 120 km/h.
