Bicol: More than 4,000 families in the Bicol Region have been evacuated to ensure their safety from the impact of Severe Tropical Storm Opong (international name Bualoi), the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said on Thursday. In a phone interview, OCD-5 Director Claudio Yucot reported that 4,023 families or 13,884 individuals are currently in various evacuation centers across five provinces in the region.

According to Philippines News Agency, the number of families and individuals is expected to increase as additional reports from local government units have yet to be submitted. The storm's effects have also led to the cancellation of sea travel at 25 seaports, leaving 2,200 passengers stranded in Albay, Masbate, and Sorsogon, along with the drivers of 916 cargoes and four vessels.

A total of 1,118 passengers, two buses, 231 trucks, 176 light vehicles, and 23 motorcycles were reported stranded along Maharlika Highway. As of 8 p.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) indicated that Opong continues to move closer to Eastern Visayas and is forecast to make landfall over Northern Samar early Friday morning.

Opong, located 150 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, is packing maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph, and may reach typhoon category before making landfall. Throughout Friday, Opong is expected to move generally west-northwestward near or over Sibuyan Sea, traversing the mainland and/or island provinces of the Bicol Region, southern Calabarzon, and northern Mimaropa, before emerging over the West Philippine Sea early Saturday morning.