Several areas in Region 5 are experiencing storm surge as Super Typhoon Pepito nears, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 5 said Saturday.
“Mayroon na pong mga areas na affected ng storm surge. Yung areas ng Catanduanes, Tiwi, Malinao, Rapu-Rapu, at sa city ng Legazpi. Hindi pa naman siya kalakihan pero umabot na po sa mga kabahayan,” said OCD Region 5 Director, Claudio Yucot in an interview on super radyo dzBB.
(There are already areas affected by the storm surge. The areas of Catanduanes, Tiwi, Malinao, Rapu-Rapu, and the city of Legazpi. He is not big yet, but he has reached the households.)
Residents along the coastal areas were urged Friday to hold pre-emptive evacuations.
“At this moment, meron na po 59,560 families, 184,259 individuals. Inaasahang ito ay lalaki pa sa mga susunod na oras, pagdating ng mga reports,” said Yucot
(At this moment, there are 59,560 families, 184,259 individuals. It is expected to grow in the next few hours as reports arrive.)
OCD is expecting at least 300,000 evacuees due to Pepito.
The agency also continues to call for the evacuation of some residents who are still staying in their houses to ensure their safety.
“Inaanyayahan po natin sila na lumikas na. May naiwan pang residente sa storm surge areas. Lumikas na po tayo habang di pa palaki ang storm surge,” he added.
(We invite them to evacuate. There are still residents left in the storm surge areas. Let’s evacuate before the storm surge gets bigger.)
On Friday, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ordered the creation of storm surge risk maps to help local government units prepare during inclement weather conditions such as typhoons.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 was raised over Catanduanes and part of northeastern Camarines Sur as tropical cyclone Pepito (international name: Man-yi) intensified into a super typhoon on Saturday, threatening the Bicol region, weather service PAGASA said.
In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA reported that the center of the eye of Super Typhoon Pepito was estimated at 185 kms east of Catarman, Northern Samar or 250 kms east of Juban, Sorsogon.
—VAL, GMA Integrated News
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