TROPICAL Depression Ofel is expected to make its fourth landfall in Oriental Mindoro tonight (October 14) or early morning Thursday, October 15.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that as of 7 p.m. Wednesday, Ofel was located between Marinduque and Romblon area, heading toward Oriental Mindoro.
It was located at 35 kilometers north of Romblon, Romblon as of 7 p.m., packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 55 km/h. It was moving westward at 15 km/h.
Ofel first made landfall at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday in Can-avid, Eastern Samar, then in Matnog, Sorsogon at 6 a.m., and Burias Island, Masbate at 12 p.m.
Pagasa said the tropical depression is expected to be at 290 kilometers west of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro by Thursday afternoon, October 15.
Pagasa hoisted Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) Number 1 over Batangas, the southern portion of Laguna (Luisiana, Majayjay, Liliw, Nagcarlan, Rizal, San Pablo City, Calauan, Alaminos, Los Baños, Bay, Magdalena), the central and southern portions of Quezon (Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Buenavista, San Narciso, San Andres, Mulanay, San Francisco, Catanauan, Lopez, Calauag, Quezon, Alabat, Perez, Atimonan, Tayabas City, Mauban, Sampaloc, Lucban, Gumaca, General Luna, Macalelon, Pitogo, Unisan, Plaridel, Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Pagbilao, Lucena City, Sariaya, Candelaria, Dolores, Tiaong, San Antonio), Calamian Islands, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, and Burias Island.
It earlier lifted TCWS 1 in Masbate, including Ticao Islands.
Pagasa said Ofel is likely to emerge over the West Philippine Sea Thursday morning and exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Friday morning or afternoon, October 16.
Ofel will remain a tropical depression while crossing the Southern Luzon area, but it might intensify into a tropical storm after emerging over the West Philippine Sea, added Pagasa. (LMY/SunStar Philippines)