TYPHOON ODETTE CONTINUE TO GAIN STRENGTH UPON ENTERING THE PHILIPPINE SEA

written by Jansen Rodriguez

As of early Thursday, December 16, Typhoon Rai (locally named Odette) continued to strengthen over the Philippine Sea while on its way to the Caraga region in Mindanao.

According to 8am bulletin on Thursday of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), it now has maximum sustained winds increased from 150 kilometers per hour to 165 km/h, while its gustiness is now up to 205 km/h from the previous 185 km/h.

The eye of the typhoon was last located 470 km east of Surigao City, Surigao Del Norte.

By Thursday noontime or early afternoon, Odette possibly makes its first landfall in Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands, Dinagat Islands, or the northern part of Surigao del Sur.

These are the areas under tropical cyclone wind signals as of 8am are the following:

Signal No. 3 (destructive typhoon-force winds)

• Southern Leyte

• southern part of Leyte (Abuyog, Mahaplag, Baybay City, Inopacan, Hindang, Hilongos, Bato, Matalom, Javier)

• Bohol

• central and southern parts of Cebu (Lapu-Lapu City, Cordova, Carmen, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Mandaue City, Cebu City, Talisay City, Minglanilla, Naga City, San Fernando, Ginatilan, Samboan, Santander, Oslob, Badian, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Malabuyoc, Alegria, Argao, Catmon, Tuburan, Asturias, Sogod, Balamban, Toledo City, Pinamungahan, Carcar City, Aloguinsan, Barili, Dumanjug, Sibonga, Moalboal, Ronda, Alcantara) including Camotes Islands

• Dinagat Islands

• Surigao del Norte

• northern part of Agusan del Norte (Tubay, Santiago, Jabonga, Kitcharao)

• northern part of Surigao del Sur (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza, Cortes, Tandag City)

Signal No. 2 (damaging gale- to storm-force winds)

• Sorsogon

• Masbate including Burias and Ticao Islands

• Cuyo Islands

• Cagayancillo Islands

• southern part of Oriental Mindoro (Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay, Bulalacao)

• Romblon

• Northern Samar

• Eastern Samar

• Samar

• Biliran

• rest of Leyte

• rest of Cebu including Bantayan Islands

• Negros Oriental

• Negros Occidental

• Siquijor

• Guimaras

• Iloilo

• Antique

• Capiz

• Aklan

• rest of Surigao del Sur

• rest of Agusan del Norte

• Agusan del Sur

• northern part of Bukidnon (Malitbog, Impasug-ong, Manolo Fortich, Libona, Baungon, Sumilao)

• Misamis Oriental

• Camiguin

• northern part of Misamis Occidental (Lopez Jaena, Plaridel, Baliangao, Calamba, Sapang Dalaga, Concepcion, Oroquieta City, Aloran)

• extreme northern part of Zamboanga del Norte (Rizal, Sibutad, Dapitan City, Dipolog City, Polanco, Piñan, La Libertad, Mutia)

Signal No. 1 (strong winds)

• Catanduanes

• Camarines Norte

• Camarines Sur

• Albay

• Sorsogon

• Burias Island

• Marinduque

• southern part of Quezon (San Antonio, Tiaong, Candelaria, Sariaya, Dolores, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Padre Burgos, Atimonan, Agdangan, Unisan, Gumaca, Plaridel, Pitogo, Lopez, Guinayangan, Buenavista, Catanauan, General Luna, Macalelon, Mulanay, San Narciso, San Andres, San Francisco, Tagkawayan, Calauag, Quezon, Alabat, Tayabas City, Perez)

• Batangas

• Oriental Mindoro

• Occidental Mindoro

• mainland Palawan including Balabac, Calamian, and Kalayaan Islands

• northern part of Davao Oriental (Baganga, Cateel, Boston)

• northern part of Davao de Oro (Laak, Mawab, Nabunturan, Montevista, Monkayo, New Bataan, Compostela)

• northern part of Davao del Norte (Talaingod, Santo Tomas, Kapalong, Asuncion, San Isidro, New Corella)

• rest of Misamis Occidental

• rest of Bukidnon

• Lanao del Norte

• Lanao del Sur

• northern part of Zamboanga del Norte (Labason, Kalawit, Tampilisan, Liloy, Salug, Godod, Bacungan, Sindangan, Siayan, Jose Dalman, Manukan, President Manuel A. Roxas, Katipunan, Sergio Osmeña Sr., Gutalac, Baliguian)

• northern part of Zamboanga del Sur (Bayog, Lakewood, Kumalarang, Guipos, Mahayag, Dumalinao, Tukuran, Tambulig, Ramon Magsaysay, Aurora, Molave, Sominot, Tigbao, Labangan, Josefina, Pagadian City, Midsalip, Dumingag)

• northern part of Zamboanga Sibugay (Titay, Ipil, Naga, Kabasalan, Siay, Diplahan, Buug)

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has activated national and regional emergency operations centres and response clusters since December 10.

Whilst, with respect to COVID-19 health protocols, The Department of Health (DOH) has postponed national vaccination campaigns in the identified most affected areas on the track of the typhoon Odette.