‘Ursula’ ravaging southern Mindoro provinces, threatens Calamian Islands

MANILA, Philippines — The eyewall of Typhoon Ursula (international name: Phanfone) brought “very destructive winds and intense rainfall” over the southern portion of Mindoro provinces on Wednesday afternoon and threatened to affect the Calamian Islands in Palawan in the coming hours, the state weather bureau said.

Calm conditions will be experienced in these areas in case the eye of the typhoon passes, but violent conditions associated with the eyewall will resume once the eye moves out of the area, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in its 5 p.m. severe weather bulletin.

At 4 p.m., Ursula was spotted at 15 km south-southwest of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

Moving west-northwest at 20 kph, the weather disturbance was packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kph near the center with gusts reaching up to 195 kph.

Occasional to frequent heavy with intermittent intense rain may fall over Calamian Islands, Cuyo Islands, and Mindoro provinces until Wednesday night.

Light to moderate with intermittent heavy rainfall, meanwhile, will prevail over Romblon, Aklan, Capiz, Calabarzon, Marinduque, Aurora, and northern portion of mainland Palawan during the same period.

Residents in these areas are advised to take precautionary measures to reduce the impact of flooding and rain-induced landslides.

“Destructive typhoon-force winds” will begin affecting Calamian Islands Wednesday night.

Sea travel remains risky in areas under tropical cyclone wind signals (TCWS), while a storm surge of 1 to 2 meters may affect several coastal areas in Negros Occidental and Calamian Islands, Pagasa further said.

Typhoon Ursula had so far made seven landfalls, the latest of which was at the southern tip of Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro at 3 p.m.

Storm signals were lifted over Metro Manila, Rizal, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Cagayancillo Island, northern Negros Occidental, Iloilo, and Guimaras.

Storm signals remain in the following areas:

Signal No. 3

Southern Oriental Mindoro: Roxas, Mansalay, Bulalacao, Bongabong, Bansud, Pola, Socorro, Pinamalayan, Gloria

Southern Occidental Mindoro: Calintaan, Rizal, San Jose, Magsaysay, southern portion of Sablayan

Calamian Islands: Busuanga, Coron, Culion)

Signal No. 2

Romblon

Batangas

Marinduque

The rest of Oriental Mindoro

The rest of Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island

Cuyo Islands

Extreme northern portion of mainland Palawan: Linapacan, El Nido, Taytay, Araceli

Northern Antique: Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi

Northwestern Aklan: Malay, Nabas, Buruanga, Ibajay, Tangalan, Makato, Numancia, Lazo, Kalibo, Banga, Malinao, Madalag

Signal No. 1

Bataan

Cavite

Laguna

The rest northern mainland Palawan: Dumaran, San Vicente, Roxas

Southern portion of Quezon: Mauban, Sampaloc, Lucban, Tayabas, Lucena, Dolores, Candelaria, Sariaya, Tiaong, San Antonio, Pagbilao, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Plaridel, Agdangan, Unisan, Gumaca, Pitogo, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, Mulanay, San Francisco, San Andres, San Narciso, Buenavista, Lopez, Guinayangan, Calauag, Alabat, Perez, Quezon

Capiz

The rest of Antique

The rest of Aklan

/atm