Residents of Sitio Pantalan in Tumauini, Isabela wait for aid and rescue boats on October 25, 2024, a day after severe tropical storm made landfall in the area. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/FileMANILA -- Typhoon Ofel is likely to remain at typhoon category before its expected landfall in the northeastern province of Cagayan on Thursday, the state weather bureau said on Wednesday.

PAGASA Weather Specialist Chris Perez said in a press conference at the Office of Civil Defense that "Ofel" is expected to make landfall between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Areas likely to be hit by Typhoon Ofel include those that were already impacted by Super Typhoon Marce and Typhoon Nika.

According to Perez, Typhoon Ofel will bring heavy rainfall.

Based on PAGASA-DOST's forecast, from today until tomorrow noon, moderate to heavy rain ranging from 50-100 mm is expected in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela due to Typhoon Ofel.

Starting Thursday afternoon until Friday afternoon, intense to torrential rains of up to 200 mm will be experienced in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela.

Heavy to intense rain of 100-200 mm is also expected in the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Abra, Batanes, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Ifugao.

Moderate to heavy rain of 50-100 mm is anticipated in the provinces of Ilocos Sur, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and Aurora.

Residents in these provinces are advised to be cautious of the threat of landslides and flooding.

READ: Evacuations, call for aid as Typhoon Ofel approaches Philippines

READ: Ofel now a typhoon; floods, landslides possible

"Ito rin 'yung mga lugar na naapektuhan ng mga nakaraang bagyo, so dapat maging alerto 'yung mga kababayan natin dito," said Perez.

"[Dapat] maging handa [at] patuloy na makipag-ugnayan sa kanilang local government units, at saka local disaster management office para sa patuloy na gawain pangkaligtasan. Sapagka't itong mga pag-ulan na ito ay posibleng magdulo ng mga pagbaha sa mga low-lying areas, pagbaha sa mga komunidad na malapit sa tabing ilog," he added.

Perez also warned of storm surges that are expected to reach two to three meters high in the provinces of Isabela, Cagayan, and Northern Ilocos Norte. A storm surge of one to two meters is also expected to hit the rest of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Batanes, and Northern Aurora.

"Hopefully, sa mga oras na ito, nakapag-evacuate na po 'yung mga kababayan natin na naninirahan sa mga coastal areas into higher grounds, or sa mga designated evacuation areas," said Perez.

Typhoon Ofel is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Cagayan LGU has assured that preparations are in place not just for Typhoon Ofel, but also for Pepito. This, even as some areas in the province remain submerged in floods due to the effects of typhoon Marce.

According to Ruelie Rapsing, Cagayan Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer, their red alert status has not been lifted since "Kristine" struck the province.

"Nasa Charlie emergency response protocol pa rin po tayo," he said. "All the mayors must implement  forced evacuation, hindi na preemptive, but force evacuation under such protocols."

"So, mananatili at mananatili po sila doon sa mga evacuation centers nila just to make sure na nasa ligtas po silang lugar and for the entire month of October, iyan po iyong siniguro natin," he added. "Iyan din ang gagawin natin for Ofel and Pepito, dahil iyan lang ang nakikita nating effective methods sa ngayon."

Rapsing says Cagayan's remaining disaster response funds is currently less than a hundred million pesos which they need to replenish to be able to respond to incoming typhoons. -- with a report from Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News

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