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Supertyphoon Ofel (international name: Usagi) made a powerful landfall over Baggao, Cagayan, at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, bringing with it torrential rains and howling winds that whipped through the province.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Ofel struck with sustained winds exceeding 185 kilometers per hour, forcing the agency to raise Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 5 — the highest level of alert for extreme weather — over Sta. Ana and Gonzaga towns, the northeastern portions of Cagayan.
Pagasa said the typhoon could make another landfall over the Babuyan Islands Thursday night following its initial landfall before exiting the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).
As of the 5 p.m. bulletin of Pagasa, Ofel has weakened over mainland Cagayan, although it remained within typhoon category and was located in the vicinity of Gonzaga.
After Ofel, Pagasa expects Tropical Storm Man-yi (to be named Pepito once it enters PAR) to hit Luzon either Saturday or Sunday.
Residents in Cagayan said they experienced intense winds and heavy rains as the supertyphoon prompted local authorities to implement a forced evacuation at Barangay Casambalangan in Sta. Ana town on Thursday morning.
Located near the coast, the village is at risk of a storm surge during typhoons.
In Gonzaga, residents were seen tying down their rooftops as Ofel drew near, anticipating its strong impact.
Close to 200 residents sought refuge at Gonzaga National High School on Thursday as the typhoon lashed through Cagayan.
A preemptive evacuation was also implemented in the towns of Solana, Buguey and Aparri due to flood risks from heavy rains brought by the typhoon.
Solana was placed under Signal No. 3 while Buguey and Aparri were under Signal No.
