MANILA — Ofel made landfall in Cagayan and weakened into a typhoon on Thursday afternoon, the state weather bureau said.

The erstwhile super typhoon hit land in Baggao town at 1:30 p.m.

In its 2 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Ofel was packing winds of 175 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 240 kph.

NOAA/Himawari-9 satellite imagery 

It said Ofel would continue crossing the northeastern portion of Luzon before passing close or making another landfall in the vicinity of Babuyan Islands on Thursday night.

Philippines on highest alert as super typhoon Ofel approaches

Ofel will continue to weaken as it interacts with land, PAGASA said.

But it warned the typhoon would still bring heavy rains in northern Luzon, where floods and landslides were possible.

PAGASA kept the following wind signals raised in its 2 p.m. advisory.

Signal 4


118 to 184 kph winds expected in at least 12 hours

- Babuyan Islands, the northern and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan (Santa Teresita, Ballesteros, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Lal-Lo, Allacapan, Gattaran, Baggao, Peñablanca, Gonzaga, Santa Ana), and the northeastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan)

Signal 3 


89 to 117 kph winds expected in at least 18 hours

- Batanes, the rest of Cagayan, the northern, central, and eastern portions of Isabela (San Pablo, Delfin Albano, Ilagan City, Tumauini, Cabagan, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, San Mariano, Palanan), the northern portion of Apayao (Flora, Santa Marcela, Luna, Pudtol, Calanasan, Kabugao), and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Adams, Dumalneg)

Signal 2

62 to 88 kph winds expected in at least 24 hours

- Western and southern portions of Isabela (Quezon, Quirino, Mallig, San Manuel, Aurora, Cabatuan, City of Cauayan, Benito Soliven, Naguilian, Gamu, Burgos, Reina Mercedes, Luna, Roxas, Angadanan, Alicia, San Guillermo, Echague, Jones, San Agustin, San Mateo, San Isidro, Dinapigue), the rest of Apayao, Kalinga, the northeastern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Malibcong, Lagayan, San Juan, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay, Daguioman), the eastern portion of Mountain Province (Paracelis), the eastern portion of Ifugao (Alfonso Lista), and the rest of Ilocos Norte

Signal 1

39 to 61 kph winds expected in at least 24 hours

- Rest of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Mountain Province, the rest of Ifugao, the rest of Abra, the northern portion of Benguet (Bokod, Mankayan, Kapangan, Atok, Kabayan, Kibungan, Bakun, Buguias, Tublay), Ilocos Sur, the northern portion of La Union (Luna, Sudipen, Bangar, Santol, San Gabriel, Bagulin, Bacnotan, Balaoan, San Juan), and the northern portion of Aurora (Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler, Dilasag, Maria Aurora)

PEPITO

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Man-yi continues to bear down on the Philippine area of responsibility.

At 11 a.m., it was 1,375 kilometers east of Northeastern Mindanao, packing 85 kph winds and up to 105 kph gusts.

Man-yi may enter the PAR on Thursday evening and will be assigned the local name Pepito.

It may intensify up to super typhoon strength and make landfall at peak intensity over Bicol on Saturday, November 16, and cross Central Luzon on Sunday, November 17.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development - Mimaropa Region said it was prepared to assist those who would be affected by typhoon Pepito.

DSWD-Mimaropa Regional Director Leon Reynoso said the agency prepositioned some 97,000 family food packs in various warehouses in the region.

He added that DSWD workers were on standby to facilitate the distribution of aid.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson LCDR Michael John Encina meanwhile said they were coordinating with the DSWD for the transport of aid.

“Nakahanda ang 7 barko ng PCG kasama ang PCG auxiliary ng ating relief operations at relief packing para eventually kapag dumaan na ang mga bagyong ito makapag[proceed na sila safely ang mga barko handa tayong mag-provide ng relief operations,” Encina said in a televised briefing.

“Aside from DSWD katuwang natin ang PCG auxiliary na tumutulong para tayo ay makalikom ng relief goods at mga pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan para ito ay maihatid agad sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo,” he added.

The PCG official appealed to the public to heed warnings of local authorities, avoid sea travel in affected areas, and preemptively evacuate when necessary.

— With reports from Pia Gutierrez and Ariel Rojas, ABS-CBN News