Tuguegarao City now on red alert as Pepito batters parts of Luzon

HIGH RISK. The province of Cagayan has declared a red alert status as Super Typhoon Pepito (Man-yi) hit a large part of Luzon Sunday (Nov. 17, 2024). The red alert directs that all emergency personnel and assets be available and ready for deployment in any emergency. (Tuguegarao City PIO FB)

TUGUEGARAO CITY — Disaster response officials in this city are back to red alert effective Sunday as Super Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi) batters parts of Luzon.

“Flood warning tayo sa (in the) city tonight and tomorrow (Monday). Be guided accordingly,” Tuguegarao City Mayor Maila Rosario Ting-Que said as she enjoined all emergency units, including the Barangay (village) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils, to be on standby and prepare for deployment in the worst-case scenario or whenever needed.

The city remains under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 as of the 5 p.m. bulletin of the state weather bureau, and is expected to experience heavy to torrential rain as the typhoon traverses Quirino province towards Ilocos Region and the western part of Northern Luzon.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas identified in the official hazard maps and in localities that experienced considerable amounts of rainfall for the past several days such as in this city and nearby municipalities.

As of 6 p.m. Sunday, the Cagayan River via the Buntun Bridge gauging station was at 4.6 meters or above alert level.

All roads and bridges remain passable.

Meanwhile, a storm surge warning was hoisted over four provinces in Ilocos Region due to Pepito.

The weather bureau said a storm surge is likely to occur within the next 48 hours as Pepito continues to gain more power, with the forecast for the eastern seaboard of mainland Cagayan province at up to six meters.