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Intense Tropical Storm Bualoi, locally referred to as Opong, made its initial landfall over Eastern Samar and is currently progressing toward Romblon, posing a threat to deliver damaging winds and heavy rainfall, as reported by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
The cyclone previously escalated to a typhoon level and made its first landfall in San Policarpo, Eastern Samar, at 11:30 p.m. on Thursday.
The diminished Severe Tropical Storm Bualoi, exhibiting sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour (kph) near its center and gusts peaking at 150 kph, was situated over the coastal waters of Mandaon, Masbate, with a possibility of making landfall in Romblon, according to PAGASA’s 8:00 a.m. bulletin.
It was also advancing West Northwestward at a velocity of 30 kph.
Tropical cyclone wind signals remained in effect across more than a dozen regions within the country’s three major islands.
Signal No. 3, associated with storm-force winds, was issued for various regions in Luzon including Sorsogon, Masbate, Albay, Camarines Sur, the southern regions of Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Batangas, and the southern areas of Laguna.
In the Visayas, it encompassed the western parts of Northern Samar, the western areas of Samar, the extreme northern regions of Biliran, the northwestern parts of Capiz, the northern sections of Aklan, and the Caluya Islands.
Signal No. 2, involving gale-force winds, was declared in certain locations of Luzon including Catanduanes, the remaining areas of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, the rest of Quezon, the remainder of Laguna, Rizal, Cavite, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, and the southern sectors of Zambales.
In the Visayas, it covered the remaining areas of Northern Samar, the northern sections of Eastern Samar, the northern and central areas of Samar, the rest of Biliran, the northern portion of Leyte, the northern segments of Cebu including Camotes and Bantayan Islands, the extreme northern areas of Negros Occidental, the northern portions of Iloilo, the remaining Capiz, the leftover Aklan, and the northwestern parts of Antique.
Signal No. 1, indicating strong winds, was established in other regions of Luzon—Quirino, the central and southern sectors of Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, the remaining Zambales, Cuyo Islands, and the northern part of mainland Palawan.
In the Visayas, it included the rest of Eastern Samar, the remaining sections of Samar, the leftover Leyte, Southern Leyte, the eastern and central sections of Bohol, the central area of Cebu, the northern part of Negros Oriental, the northern and central portions of Negros Occidental, the central regions of Iloilo, and the central areas of Antique.
In Mindanao, it spanned Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands.
PAGASA also issued a storm surge alert along coastal regions near Bualoi, indicating a moderate to high risk of storm surge within the next 24 hours.
Storm surges of up to 3 meters are anticipated in affected regions, particularly in Albay, Batangas, Romblon, and various locales in Samar.
Malacañang earlier canceled classes and government operations for Friday due to the anticipated impacts of Bualoi. All levels of classes and government activities were halted in Metro Manila, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Masbate, Northern Samar, Romblon, Samar, and Sorsogon.
Simultaneously, classes at all levels were canceled in Aklan, Albay, Antique, Bataan, Batangas, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Capiz, Cavite, Catanduanes, Guimaras, Iloilo, Laguna, Leyte, Marinduque, Negros Occidental, Oriental Mindoro, Rizal, and Quezon.
4 FATALITIES
Meanwhile, four fatalities were reported due to Opong, as stated by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
In a press briefing, the NDRRMC reported that one of the deceased was from Monreal in Ticao Island, Masbate, where a resident was killed by a falling tree.
Another fatality occurred in Masbate City after a wall fell, while a resident in Mobo, Masbate, perished from debris that fell inside a house.
The fourth victim was in Mercedes, Camarines Norte, where a resident was struck by lightning.
The NDRRMC indicated that the newly documented fatalities are not yet included in the overall total of 14 deaths noted in its latest situational report as of 6:00 a.m. — Edg Adrian A. Eva
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