Eastern samar: Tropical cyclone Opong, internationally known as Bualoi, has intensified into a typhoon as it approaches Eastern Visayas on Thursday night. The center of Opong was tracked over the coastal waters of Dolores, Eastern Samar, with maximum sustained winds of 120 km per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 165 km per hour. It is moving west northwest at 25 km per hour.
According to Philippines News Agency, areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 will experience storm-force winds of up to 184 km per hour in the next 12 hours. These areas include Sorsogon, the eastern portion of Masbate including Ticao Island, Northern Samar, and several portions of Eastern Samar and Samar.
Signal No. 3 is in effect over the rest of Masbate including Burias Island, Albay, parts of Camarines Sur, the southern portion of Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, and parts of Oriental Mindoro, Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, and Biliran. These areas are advised to prepare for winds of up to 118 km per hour.
Signal No. 2 has been raised over Catanduanes, parts of Camarines Sur and Norte, areas of Quezon, Laguna, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, parts of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Metro Manila, and parts of Bataan. Additionally, certain areas of Southern Leyte, Leyte, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Antique, Dinagat Islands, Siargao Islands, and Bucas Grande Islands are also affected.
Signal No. 1 is hoisted over parts of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Quezon, Cuyo Islands, Palawan, Southern Leyte, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Antique, and Surigao del Norte.
Opong is expected to make landfall over Northern Samar or the northern portion of Eastern Samar between midnight and early Friday morning. It will then head towards the Bicol Region, potentially making another landfall in Sorsogon or Masbate, before moving across the Sibuyan Sea and traversing the Bicol Region, southern Calabarzon, and northern Mimaropa. Opong is likely to emerge over the West Philippine Sea by Saturday morning.
