The provincial government of Catanduanes orders the forced evacuation of families after the state weather agency raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 over the island province on Saturday morning, November 16, 2o24. Pepito (international name: Man-yi) gained more strength and became a super typhoon at 8 a.m. on Saturday and was projected to hit Catanduanes at peak intensity by Sunday evening or Sunday early morning, November 17. INQUIRER FILES
LEGAZPI CITY — The provincial government of Catanduanes ordered the forced evacuation of families after the state weather agency raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 over the island province on Saturday morning.
Pepito (international name: Man-yi) gained more strength and became a super typhoon at 8 a.m. on Saturday, November 16, and was projected to hit Catanduanes at peak intensity by Sunday evening or Sunday early morning, November 17.
Catanduanes Gov. Joseph Cua advised the public to take advantage of the remaining time before Pepito landfalls in the province to evacuate to safer ground.
Based on the initial data, 2,969 families, or 11,002 individuals were already evacuated from the province.
READ: LIVE UPDATES: Typhoon Pepito
Residents near the coastal villages of Catanduanes were also reminded to evacuate as the storm surge caused flooding early Saturday.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its 11 a.m. tropical cyclone update that Pepito carries maximum sustained winds of up to 185 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 230 kph.
READ: Super Typhoon Pepito prompts Signal No. 4 in parts of Bicol
Super Typhoon Pepito was last spotted 185 kilometers (km) east of Catarman, Northern Samar, or 250 km east of Juban, Sorsogon. It was heading west-northwest at 25 kph.
Pagasa noted that TCWS No. 4 indicates wind speeds of 118 kph to 184 kph within the next 12 hours, causing significant to severe damage to life and property.