(File photo from MARK ALVIC ESPLANA / INQURER SOUTHERN LUZON)
MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Ofel (international name: Usagi) is predicted to generate a storm surge in low-lying areas of Northern Luzon, prompting the state weather bureau to raise a warning Wednesday morning.
In an 8 a.m. forecast, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported that the following areas in Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, and Isabela may experience a storm surge with a height of 2.1 to 3 meters (m) in the next 48 hours:
Batanes
- Basco (capital)
- Itbayat
- Ivana
- Mahatao
- Sabtang
- Uyugan
Cagayan
- Abulug
- Aparri
- Baggao
- Ballesteros
- Buguey
- Calayan
- Claveria
- Gattaran
- Gonzaga
- Lal-lo
- Pamplona
- Peñablanca
- Sanchez-Mira
- Santa Ana
- Santa Praxedes
- Santa Teresita
Ilocos Norte
- Pagudpud
Isabela
- Dinapigue
- Divilacan
- Maconacon
- Palanan
Pagasa said a storm surge may cause moderate to significant damage.
It also warned that a storm surge with a height of 1 to 2 meters may impact the following areas within the next 48 hours, which may result in minimal to moderate damage to communities:
Aurora
- Casiguran
- Dilasag
- Dinalungan
Ilocos Norte
- Bacarra
- Badoc
- Bangui
- Burgos
- Currimao
- Laoag City (Capital)
- Paoay
- Pasuquin
Ilocos Sur
-
- Cabugao
- Caoayan
- City of Vigan (capital)
- Magsingal
- Narvacan
- San Esteban
- San Juan (Lapog)
- San Vicente
- Santa
- Santa Catalina
- Santa Maria
- Santo Domingo
- Sinait
Pagasa advised the public to suspend all marine activities in light of the storm surge warnings to ensure safety in affected coastal areas.
The state weather agency earlier reported that Ofel was last spotted some 476 kilometers (km) east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, or 595 km east of Daet, Camarines Norte.
It is packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near its center and up to 150 kph gusts, moving westward at 25 kph.