INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) directed on Wednesday ship and boat owners to take necessary measures to ensure the safety of their passengers as Typhoon “Mangkhut” (local name “Ompong”) neared the country.
The Marina told the owners to take “preventive, precautionary, and safety measures” and to constantly check weather condition before traveling.
“All are also required to report any maritime accident to the authorities that may involve respective vessels,” Marina said in an advisory.
The Hawaii-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center has already classified Mangkhut as a super typhoon. However, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) continues to categorize it as a typhoon owing to its use of a more conservative classification method.
READ: ‘Mangkhut’ now a super typhoon – US weather agency
The typhoon further intensified as it moved closer to the country on Wednesday. It is expected to enter the PAR within the day. Once inside PAR, Mangkhut will be named as Ompong.
As of Wednesday morning, the typhoon was packing maximum sustained winds of 200 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 245 kph. /cbb
READ: ‘Mangkhut’ intensifies as it nears PAR