MANILA, Philippines — Severe Tropical Storm Odette (international name: Rai) has intensified into a typhoon midday Wednesday.
As of 10 a.m., “Odette” was spotted approximately 590 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 150 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.
Odette was moving west at 20 kph.
Signal No. 2 was raised over Surigao del Sur.and the eastern portion of Surigao del Norte (Claver, Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands).
Signal No. 1 in the following areas:
-Sorsogon,
-Masbate including Ticao Island, and the southern portion of Romblon (Cajidiocan, San Fernando, Magdiwang, Alcantara, Looc, Santa Fe, San Jose)
-Eastern Samar
-Northern Samar
-Samar
-Leyte
-Biliran
-Southern Leyte
-Bohol
-Cebu,
-Negros Oriental
-Negros Occidental
-Siquijor
-Iloilo
-Capiz
-Aklan
-Antique
-Guimaras
-Agusan del Sur
-Agusan del Norte
-the rest of Surigao del Norte
-Dinagat Islands
-the northern portion of Bukidnon (Malitbog, Impasug-Ong, S-umilao, Manolo Fortich, Libona, Baungon)
-Misamis Oriental
-Camiguin
-the northern portion of Misamis Occidental (Plaridel, Baliangao, Sapang Dalaga)
-northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte (Dapitan City, Sibutad, Rizal, La Libertad, Dipolog City)
Rainfall alert
Light to moderate with at times heavy rainfall is possible in Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Islands, and Southern Leyte due to the trough and the outermost rain bands of “Odette” from Wednesday to Thursday morning.
Heavy to intense with at times torrential rainfall is expected in the Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, the northern portion of Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, the northern portion of Agusan del Sur, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Southern Leyte, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Cebu. Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Leyte, the southern portion of Eastern Samar, Siquijor, and the rest of Caraga are expected from early Thursday to Friday morning.
Thursday landfall forecast
The typhoon is expected to hit land over Caraga-Eastern Visayas by Thursday afternoon or evening.
Local government units in the Visayas and Mindanao have already started preparations for the typhoon.
The national government has also rescheduled the national vaccination drive in some areas affected by Odette.