Typhoon Ambo seen to make sixth landfall over southern Quezon

MANILA, Philippines, May 15 ------ Bringing strong winds and rains, Typhoon Ambo (international name: Vongfong) is seen to crash into the Bondoc Peninsula in southern Quezon this morning, state weather bureau PAGASA said Friday. Weather forecasters said “Ambo” has weakened after making landfalls over San Policarpio in Eastern Samar, Dalupiri Island in Northern Samar, Capul Island in Northern Samar, Ticao Island in Masbate and Burias Island in Masbate. Tens of thousands in Eastern Visayas and southern Luzon have been evacuated to temporary shelters, complicating the government’s effort to fight the coronavirus crisis. At 4 a.m., the eye of the typhoon was located in the vicinity of Claveria in Masbate. It is forecast to move toward Ragay Gulf before making its sixth landfall. “Ambo” packs peak winds of 125 kilometers per hour near the center from the previous 130 kph and gusts of up to 165 kph from the previous 180 kph. It is moving northwest at 15 kph. Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals have been hoisted over the following areas: TCWS No. 3 (Winds between 121 kph and 170 kph in at least 18 hours) - Sorsogon - Albay - Northern Masbate (Aroroy, Mandaon, Milagros, Baleno, Masbate City, Mobo, Uson) including Ticao and Burias Islands - Camarines Norte - Marinduque - Western portion of Camarines Sur (Del Gallego, Ragay, Lupi, Sipocot, Libmanan, Cabusao, Pasacao, Pamplona, Gainza, Camaligan, Canaman, Magarao, Bombon, Calabanga, Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, Naga City, Milaor, San Fernando, Minalabac, Pili, Ocampo, Tigaon, Sagñay, Buhi, Iriga City, Baao, Bula, Balatan, Nabua, Bato) - Southern portion of Quezon (Pagbilao, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Plaridel, Unisan, Gumaca, Pitogo, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Tagkawayan, Calauag, Lopez, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, Buenavista, Guinayangan, Mulanay, San Narciso, San Andres, San Francisco) TCWS No. 2 (Winds between 61 kph and 120 kph in at least 24 hours) - Nueva Vizcaya - Quirino - Aurora - Nueva Ecija - Tarlac - Pampanga - Bulacan - Metro Manila - Rizal - Laguna - Cavite - Batangas - Rest of Quezon - Rest of Masbate - Rest of Camarines Sur - Catanduanes (Banton, Corcuera, Calatrava, San Agustin, Romblon, Magdiwang, San Fernando, Cajidiocan) - Western portion of Northern Samar (San Vicente, Capul, San Antonio, Allen, Victoria, San Isidro, Biri, Lavezares, Rosario, San Jose) TCWS No. 1 (Winds between 30 kph and 60 kph in at least 36 hours) - Cagayan including Babuyan Islands - Isabela - Ilocos Norte - Ilocos Sur - La Union - Pangasinan - Apayao - Kalinga - Abra - Mountain Province - Ifugao - Benguet - Zambales - Bataan - Oriental Mindoro - Rest of Romblon - Rest of Northern Samar - Extreme northern portion of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Arteche, Maslog) - Northern portion of Samar (Calbayog City, Tagapul-an, Almagro, Sto. Niño. Tarangnan, Sta. Margarita, Gandara, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Matuguinao) - Biliran - Extreme northwestern portion of Leyte (Calubian, San Isidro) - Extreme northeastern portion of Capiz (Pilar, Panay, Roxas, Ivisan) - Northeastern portion of Iloilo (Carles, Balasan, Estancia, Batad) Rainfall outlook Weather forecasters said moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over will be experienced Bicol region, Quezon, Aurora and Marinduque today. By Saturday, residents of Cagayan Valley, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Aurora, and the northern portion of Nueva Ecija will have moderate to heavy with at times intense rains. “Flooding and rain-induced landslides may occur in highly to very highly susceptible areas during heavy or prolonged rainfall,” PAGASA said. Storm surge with height of up to two meters may be experienced over the coastal areas of Bicol region, Quezon and Aurora in the next 24 hours. Sea travel is risk over the seaboards of areas under TCWS. Source: philstar.com