Philippine Coast Guard logo. (Photo from PCG/Facebook)
In Eastern Visayas, there are 614 individuals, including passengers, drivers, and helpers stranded in three ports. There were also 167 rolling cargoes and five vessels stranded.
PCG said that these figures were obtained as Typhoon Pepito (International name: Man-Yi) moved closer to the country’s landmass.
“The PCG monitored 10 ports affected with 1,606 passengers / truck drivers / cargo helpers, 487 rolling cargoes and 10 vessels were stranded, while 20 vessels and 2 motorbancas taking shelter due to Severe Tropical Storm #PepitoPH,” PCG said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Thursday night that Pepito may eventually intensify into a super typhoon.
As of 10:00 a.m., Pepito’s eye was located some 630 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, with maximum sustained winds of up 130 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, and gustiness of up to 160 kph.
It was last seen moving west at 30 kph.
According to Pagasa’s forecast, Pepito will maintain its typhoon status until 8:00 a.m. of Saturday, before intensifying into a super typhoon before hitting land — possibly somewhere in Catanduanes or Camarines Sur.
It would eventually weaken into a typhoon before leaving the Philippine area of responsibility as a severe tropical storm.