SEVERAL areas in Mindanao have been placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 3 as Typhoon Odette (Rai) continued to move closer to the country.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that Odette slightly intensified while decelerating westward.
As of 10 p.m. Wednesday, December 15, the center of the typhoon was located at 470 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte.
It was packing maximum winds of 140 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center, gusts of up to 170 km/h, and central pressure of 965 hPa while moving westward at 15 km/h.
TCWS 3 was hoisted over Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, the northern portion of Agusan del Norte (Tubay, Santiago, Jabonga, Kitcharao), and the northern portion of Surigao del Sur (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza, Cortes).
Pagasa said destructive typhoon-force winds will be experienced within any of the areas where TCWS 3 is in effect. This may bring moderate to heavy damage to structures and vegetation.
TCWS 2, meanwhile, was raised in the following areas:
Luzon
The southeastern portion of Masbate (Cataingan, Pio V. Corpuz, Esperanza, Placer)
Visayas
The central and southern portions of Eastern Samar (Guiuan, Salcedo, Quinapondan, Giporlos, Balangiga, Lawaan, General Macarthur, Hernani, Llorente, Balangkayan, Maydolong, City of Borongan, San Julian, Sulat, Taft, Can-Avid, Mercedes), the central and southern portions of Samar (Marabut, Basey, Santa Rita, Villareal, Pinabacdao, Calbiga, Hinabangan, Paranas, Motiong, Jiabong, City of Catbalogan, San Sebastian, Zumarraga, Daram, Talalora, San Jorge, Tarangnan, Pagsanghan, Santo Niño, Almagro, Tagapul-An), Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Negros Occidental, Guimaras, and the eastern portion of Iloilo (Carles, Balasan, Batad, Estancia, San Dionisio, Concepcion, Sara, Ajuy, Lemery, San Rafael, Banate, Anilao, Barotac Viejo, Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas)
Mindanao
The rest of Surigao del Sur, the rest of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, the northern portion of Bukidnon (Malitbog, Impasug-Ong, Manolo Fortich), the eastern and central portions of Misamis Oriental (Tagoloan, Villanueva, Jasaan, Claveria, Balingasag, Lagonglong, Balingoan, Talisayan, Medina, Gingoog City, Magsaysay, Kinoguitan, Sugbongcogon, Binuangan, Salay, Cagayan de Oro City, Opol, City of El Salvador, Alubijid, Laguindingan, Gitagum, Libertad), and Camiguin
TCWS 1 was hoisted over:
Luzon
Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, the rest of Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Marinduque, Romblon, the southern portion of Quezon (San Antonio, Tiaong, Candelaria, Sariaya, Dolores, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Padre Burgos, Atimonan, Agdangan, Unisan, Gumaca, Plaridel, Pitogo, Lopez, Guinayangan, Buenavista, Catanauan, General Luna, Macalelon, Mulanay, San Narciso, San Andres, San Francisco), the southern portion of Batangas (San Juan, Lobo, Taysan, Rosario, Padre Garcia, Ibaan, Batangas City, San Pascual, San Luis, Bauan, Mabini, Tingloy, Calatagan), Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, and the northern and central portions of Palawan (San Vicente, Roxas, Taytay, Dumaran, Araceli, El Nido, Puerto Princesa City) including Calamian, Cagayancillo and Cuyo Islands
Visayas
Northern Samar, the rest of Eastern Samar, the rest of Samar, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and the rest of Iloilo
Mindanao
The northern portion of Davao Oriental (Boston, Cateel), the northern portion of Davao de Oro (Monkayo, Compostela, Montevista, Laak), the northern portion of Davao del Norte (San Isidro, Kapalong), the rest of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, the central portion of Bukidnon (Talakag, Lantapan, City of Valencia, City of Malaybalay, San Fernando, Cabanglasan, Libona, Baungon, Sumilao), the northern portion of Lanao del Norte (Baroy, Tubod, Kolambugan, Magsaysay, Tangcal, Munai, Maigo, Bacolod, Kauswagan, Poona Piagapo, Pantao Ragat, Matungao, Baloi, Iligan City, Linamon, Tagoloan, Pantar), the northern portion of Lanao del Sur (Madalum, Bacolod-Kalawi, Tugaya, Balindong, Piagapo, Saguiaran, Marantao, Marawi City, Kapai, Tagoloan II, Bubong, Ditsaan-Ramain, Buadiposo-Buntong), the northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte (Labason, Kalawit, Tampilisan, Liloy, Salug, Godod, Bacungan, Sindangan, Siayan, Jose Dalman, Manukan, Pres. Manuel A. Roxas, Katipunan, Sergio Osmeña Sr., Dipolog City, Polanco, Piñan, Mutia, La Libertad, Dapitan City, Sibutad, Rizal, Gutalac, Baliguian), and the northern portion of Zamboanga del Sur (Dumingag, Ramon Magsaysay, Midsalip, Sominot, Mahayag, Molave, Josefina, Tambulig)
Pagasa said that based on their forecast track, Odette will move westward over the Philippine Sea and the center of its eye is forecast to make landfall either in the vicinity of Surigao Provinces-Dinagat Islands area or the southern portion of Eastern Visayas tomorrow afternoon, December 16.
Afterwards, the center of Odette will continue to move generally westward and cross several provinces in Central and Western Visayas regions before emerging over the Sulu Sea on Friday morning.
After passing near or in the vicinity of either Cuyo or Cagayancillo archipelago, the typhoon was forecast to cross the northern or central portion of Palawan on Friday afternoon or evening before emerging over the West Philippine Sea.
Pagasa said further intensification is expected today through tomorrow as the typhoon crosses the Philippine Sea and may reach a peak intensity of 155 km/h prior to making landfall tomorrow afternoon. (LMY)