Tropical cyclone “Pepito” (international name: Man-yi) has strengthened from a typhoon to a super typhoon as of Saturday morning, according to PAGASA’s 11 a.m. bulletin.
Moving west-northwestward at 25 kilometers per hour (kph), Pepito now packs winds of 185 kph and gusts up to 230 kph. It was last estimated 215 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar.
“There is a high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights exceeding 3 meters in the next 48 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Ilocos Region (western coast), Isabela, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Marinduque, Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, and Leyte (northeastern coast),” PAGASA reported.
Under tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) no. 4 are Catanduanes and the northeastern portion of Camarines Sur (Garchitorena, Presentacion, Caramoan, Lagonoy, San Jose).
Meanwhile, Signal No. 3 was hoisted over the eastern portion of Camarines Norte (Vinzons, Talisay, Mercedes, Daet, Basud, San Vicente, San Lorenzo Ruiz), the northern and southeastern portion of Camarines Sur (Sagñay, Tigaon, Goa, Tinambac, Siruma, Buhi, Ocampo, Iriga City, Sipocot, Pili, Cabusao, Calabanga, Bombon, Magarao, Canaman, Naga City, Camaligan), the eastern portion of Albay (City of Tabaco, Malilipot, Tiwi, Malinao, Santo Domingo, Manito, Legazpi City, Bacacay, Rapu-Rapu), and the northeastern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz, City of Sorsogon, Gubat) in Luzon.
For the Visayas, also under Signal No. 3 are the eastern portion of Northern Samar (Palapag, Laoang, Mapanas, Gamay, Lapinig, Catubig, Pambujan) and the northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Oras, Jipapad).
