Typhoon Ambo makes landfall in San Andres, Quezon; Signal No. 2 in NCR

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Ambo made landfall in San Andres, Quezon on Friday morning with its eyewall  bringing destructive winds and heavy to intense rainfall over the Bondoc Peninsula in the southern part of Quezon and Burias Island, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported.

Pagasa said the typhoon, with international name Vongfong, hit land at 7:45 a.m.

Several areas are still placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS), including Metro Manila which is still under TCWS No. 2, based on the 8 a.m. severe weather bulletin of the state weather bureau.

Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains will be prevail in the Bicol region, Quezon, Aurora, Marinduque, Laguna, Rizal, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino, according to Pagasa.

At 7 a.m. the eye of the typhoon was located over the coastal waters of San Andres, Quezon,  moving northeast at 15 kilometers per hour (kph) with maximum sustained winds of 125 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 165 kph.

Before making landfall in San Andres, Quezon, the typhoon previously made landfall in  San Policarpo, Eastern Samar at 12:15 p.m. Thursday; Dalupiri Island, Northern Samar at 10:15 p.m. Thursday; Capul Island, Northern Samar at 10:30 p.m. Thursday; Ticao Island, Masbate at 12:00 a.m. Friday; and Burias Island, Masbate at 3:00 a.m. Friday.

Pagasa warned that in the next 24 hours, storm surges s high a two meters may inundate coastal communities in the Bicol region, Quezon, and Aurora.

TCWS No. 3, which means winds of greater than 121 kph up to 170 kph may be expected in at least 18 hours, is raised over the following areas:

– western portion of Camarines Sur (Del Gallego, Ragay, Lupi, Sipocot, Cabusao, Libmanan, Pamplona, Pasacao, San Fernando, Minalabac, Bula, Balatan)

– Santa Elena, Camarines Norte (

– Burias Island

– Marinduque

– eastern portion of Quezon (Polillo, Infanta, Real, Mauban, Pagbilao, Sampaloc, eastern Tayabas, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Plaridel, Unisan, Gumaca, Pitogo, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Tagkawayan, Calauag, Lopez, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, Buenavista, Guinayangan, Mulanay, San Narciso, San Andres, San Francisco)

– eastern portion of Laguna (Santa Maria, Famy, Siniloan, Pangil, Pakil, Mabitac, Paete, Kalayaan, Lumban, Cavinti).

TCWS No. 2, which means winds of greater than 61 kph and up to 120 kph may be expected in at least 24 hours, is raised over the following areas:

– southeastern portion of Pangasinan (Mangatarem, Urbiztondo, Bayambang, Bautista, Basista, Malasiqui, Alcala, Sto. Tomas, Urdaneta, Villasis, Rosales, Asingan, Sta. Maria, Balungao, Umingan, San Quintin, Tayug, San Manuel, San Nicolas, Natividad)

– Nueva Vizcaya

– Quirino

– Aurora

– Nueva Ecija

– Tarlac

– Pampanga

– Bulacan

– Metro Manila

– Rizal

– Cavite

– Batangas

–  the rest of Laguna

– the rest of Quezon

– western portion of Masbate (Balud, Mandaon, Aroroy, Baleno, Masbate City, Mobo, Uson, Milagros) including Ticao Island

– the rest of Camarines Norte

– the rest of Camarines Sur

– Albay

– Sorsogon

– southern portion of Catanduanes (San Andres, Virac, Bato)

– eastern portion of Romblon (Banton, Corcuera, Calatrava, San Agustin, Romblon, Magdiwang, San Fernando, Cajidiocan)

TCWS No. 1, which means winds of 30 to 60 kph may be expected in at least 36 hours or intermittent rains may be expected within 36 hours, is raised over the following areas:

– Cagayan including Babuyan Islands

– Isabela

– Ilocos Norte

– Ilocos Sur

– La Union

– the rest of Pangasinan

– Apayao

– Kalinga

– Abra

– Mountain Province

– Ifugao

– Benguet

– Zambales

– Bataan

– Oriental Mindoro

– Occidental Mindoro

– the rest of Catanduanes

– the rest of Masbate

– the rest of Romblon

– extreme northeastern portion of Capiz (Pilar, Panay, Roxas, Ivisan), the northeastern portion of Iloilo (Carles, Balasan, Estancia, Batad)

– western portion of Northern Samar (San Vicente, Capul, San Antonio, Allen, Victoria, San Isidro, Biri, Lavezares, Rosario, San Jose)

GSG