Storm Opong makes landfall in Japanese Samar

Storm Opong (Bualoi) accelerates within the early hours of Friday, September 26, shifting towards Bicol at 30 km/h after hitting San Policarpo, Japanese Samar

MANILA, Philippines – Storm Opong (Bualoi) made landfall in San Policarpo, Japanese Samar, at 11:30 pm on Thursday, September 25, bringing torrential rain and fierce winds.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Providers Administration (PAGASA) stated in a briefing previous 2 am on Friday, September 26, that Opong maintained its power, with most sustained winds of 120 km/h and gustiness of as much as 165 km/h.

As of 1 am, the hurricane was already within the neighborhood of Catubig, Northern Samar. It accelerated, shifting west northwest towards Bicol at a comparatively quick 30 kilometers per hour from the earlier 25 km/h.

Opong is more likely to make one other landfall in Sorsogon or Masbate on Friday morning.

“Opong will transfer close to or over Sibuyan Sea and traverse the mainland and/or island provinces of Bicol, southern Calabarzon, and northern Mimaropa, earlier than rising over the West Philippine Sea [early Saturday morning, September 27],” added PAGASA.

The climate bureau upgraded tropical cyclone wind indicators for some areas as of two am on Friday.

Sign No. 4

Storm-force winds (118 to 184 km/h), important to extreme risk to life and property

• Sorsogon
• japanese a part of Masbate (Cataingan, Palanas, Dimasalang, Uson, Mobo, Masbate Metropolis, Baleno, Aroroy, Mandaon, Milagros) together with Ticao Island
• Northern Samar
• northern and central components of Japanese Samar (Jipapad, Maslog, Arteche, Oras, San Policarpo, Dolores, Can-avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, Borongan Metropolis)
• northern and central components of Samar (Hinabangan, Paranas, Motiong, San Sebastian, Jiabong, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Matuguinao, Calbayog Metropolis, Gandara, Santa Margarita, Pagsanghan, Tarangnan, Catbalogan Metropolis, Santo Niño, Almagro, Tagapul-an)

Sign No. 3

Storm-force winds (89 to 117 km/h), reasonable to important risk to life and property

• remainder of Masbate together with Burias Island
• Albay
• western and central components of Camarines Sur (Buhi, Iriga Metropolis, Bato, Nabua, Balatan, Baao, Bula, Minalabac, San Fernando, Pamplona, Pasacao, Libmanan, Sagñay, Tigaon, Pili, Ocampo, Calabanga, Naga Metropolis, Bombon, Canaman, Magarao, Gainza, Milaor, Camaligan, Cabusao, Sipocot, Lupi, Ragay, Del Gallego)
• southern a part of Quezon (San Francisco, San Andres, San Narciso, Mulanay, Buenavista, Catanauan, Common Luna, Guinayangan, Lopez, Macalelon, Tagkawayan, Calauag, Gumaca, Pitogo, Unisan, Plaridel, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Pagbilao, Tayabas Metropolis, Lucban, Sampaloc, Lucena Metropolis, Sariaya, Candelaria, Dolores, Tiaong, San Antonio)
• southwestern a part of Laguna (Alaminos, San Pablo Metropolis, Rizal, Nagcarlan, Liliw, Majayjay)
• southeastern and central components of Batangas (Cuenca, Taysan, Lobo, Talisay, Padre Garcia, Agoncillo, San Pascual, Santo Tomas, Bauan, San Jose, San Luis, Lemery, Lipa Metropolis, Ibaan, Tanauan Metropolis, Mabini, Mataasnakahoy, Alitagtag, Balete, Tingloy, San Juan, San Nicolas, Batangas Metropolis, Rosario, Laurel, Santa Teresita, Taal, Malvar)
• Marinduque
• Romblon
• Oriental Mindoro
• northern and central components of Occidental Mindoro (Abra de Ilog, Paluan, Mamburao, Santa Cruz, Sablayan)
• remainder of Japanese Samar
• remainder of Samar
• excessive northern a part of Leyte (Babatngon, San Miguel, Tacloban Metropolis, Barugo, Calubian, San Isidro, Leyte, Capoocan, Carigara)
• Biliran

Sign No. 2

Gale-force winds (62 to 88 km/h), minor to reasonable risk to life and property

• Catanduanes
• remainder of Camarines Sur
• Camarines Norte
• remainder of Quezon
• remainder of Laguna
• Rizal
• Cavite
• remainder of Batangas
• remainder of Occidental Mindoro together with Lubang Islands
• Calamian Islands
• Metro Manila
• Bulacan
• Pampanga
• Bataan
• southern a part of Zambales (San Marcelino, Subic, Olongapo Metropolis, Castillejos, San Antonio, San Narciso, San Felipe)
• japanese a part of Southern Leyte (Libagon, Anahawan, Hinunangan, San Juan, Silago, Saint Bernard, Hinundayan, Liloan, Pintuyan, San Francisco, San Ricardo, Sogod)
• northern and central components of Leyte (Tunga, Pastrana, Mahaplag, Matag-ob, Tolosa, Palo, Mayorga, Julita, Dagami, Inopacan, Jaro, Abuyog, Santa Fe, Albuera, Villaba, La Paz, Palompon, MacArthur, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Merida, Ormoc Metropolis, Isabel, Javier, Dulag, Alangalang, Hindang, Baybay Metropolis, Burauen, Tabango, Kananga)
• northern a part of Cebu (Medellin, Daanbantayan, Tabogon, Bogo Metropolis, San Remigio, Borbon, Sogod, Tabuelan, Tuburan, Catmon, Carmen) together with Camotes and Bantayan Islands
• excessive northern a part of Negros Occidental (Toboso, Escalante Metropolis, Sagay Metropolis, Cadiz Metropolis, Manapla, Victorias Metropolis, Enrique B. Magalona)
• northern a part of Iloilo (Estancia, Carles, Balasan, Batad, San Dionisio, Concepcion, Sara, Ajuy, Lemery, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael, San Enrique, Passi Metropolis, Bingawan, Calinog)
• Capiz
• Aklan
• northwestern a part of Vintage (Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi) together with Caluya Islands
• Dinagat Islands
• Siargao Island
• Bucas Grande Islands

Sign No. 1

Robust winds (39 to 61 km/h), minimal to minor risk to life and property

• central and southern components of Isabela (Alicia, San Mateo, Aurora, Ramon, Naguilian, Dinapigue, San Guillermo, Luna, Cauayan Metropolis, Echague, Angadanan, Benito Soliven, Santiago Metropolis, Reina Mercedes, San Agustin, San Manuel, Cabatuan, Gamu, San Isidro, Cordon, Jones, Burgos, San Mariano, Palanan)
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Ifugao
• southwestern a part of Mountain Province (Bauko, Sabangan, Tadian)
• Benguet
• southern a part of Ilocos Sur (Sugpon, Alilem)
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• Aurora
• Nueva Ecija
• Tarlac
• remainder of Zambales
• Cuyo Islands
• northern a part of mainland Palawan (El Nido, Taytay, Dumaran, Araceli)
• remainder of Southern Leyte
• japanese and central components of Bohol (Getafe, Talibon, Bien Unido, Ubay, Trinidad, President Carlos P. Garcia, Mabini, San Miguel, Alicia, Candijay, Anda, Guindulman, Pilar, Dagohoy, Danao, Buenavista, Inabanga, Clarin, Sagbayan, Carmen, Sierra Bullones, Duero, Jagna)
• central a part of Cebu (Asturias, Danao Metropolis, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Cebu Metropolis, Balamban, Mandaue Metropolis, Lapu-Lapu Metropolis, Toledo Metropolis, Talisay Metropolis, Pinamungahan, Minglanilla, Naga Metropolis, San Fernando, Aloguinsan, Carcar Metropolis, Barili)
• northern a part of Negros Oriental (Vallehermoso, Canlaon Metropolis, Guihulngan Metropolis)
• northern and central components of Negros Occidental (Calatrava, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos Metropolis, Silay Metropolis, Talisay Metropolis, Bacolod Metropolis, Bago Metropolis, Murcia, La Castellana, Valladolid, Pulupandan, La Carlota Metropolis, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Moises Padilla, Isabela, Hinigaran)
• central a part of Iloilo (Banate, Anilao, Dueñas, Dingle, Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas, Lambunao, Janiuay, Badiangan, Pototan, Mina, Zarraga, New Lucena, Cabatuan, Maasin)
• central a part of Vintage (Tibiao, Barbaza, Bugasong, Laua-an, Valderrama)
• remainder of Surigao del Norte

The southwest monsoon or habagat, enhanced by Opong, is bringing sturdy to gale-force gusts to the next areas, too:

Friday, September 26

• Ilocos Area, Cordillera Administrative Area, Cagayan Valley, Palawan, Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Caraga, Davao Area

Saturday, September 27

PAGASA additionally maintained the rainfall outlook for Opong that it launched late Thursday night.

Thursday night, September 25, to Friday night, September 26

• Intense to torrential rain (above 200 millimeters): Northern Samar, Japanese Samar, Samar, Biliran, Sorsogon, Masbate, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon
• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Occidental Mindoro, Quezon, Batangas, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Marinduque, Aklan, Capiz, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands
• Average to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Aurora, Laguna, Cavite, Metro Manila, Bataan, Rizal, Camiguin, Surigao del Norte

Friday night, September 26, to Saturday night, September 27

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Batangas, Cavite
• Average to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Laguna, Marinduque, Romblon

The improved southwest monsoon continues to set off rain in a number of provinces as properly.

Thursday night, September 25, to Friday night, September 26

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Vintage, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental
• Average to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Palawan, Negros Oriental, Siquijor

Friday night, September 26, to Saturday night, September 27

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Vintage
• Average to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Palawan, Iloilo

Floods and landslides are anticipated.

PAGASA added that there’s a excessive threat of “life-threatening” storm surges with peak heights above 3 meters in Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Occidental Mindoro together with Lubang Island, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Bicol, Northern Samar, Japanese Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Cebu, Aklan, Vintage, Capiz, Dinagat Islands, and Siargao Island inside 36 hours. Test the precise cities and municipalities right here.

ALSO ON RAPPLER

Situations in lots of seaboards stay harmful on Friday resulting from Opong.

As much as very tough, excessive, or very excessive seas (journey is dangerous for all vessels)

• Seaboards of Japanese Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Masbate together with Ticao and Burias Islands; southern and japanese seaboards of Albay and Sorsogon – waves as much as 11 meters excessive
• Seaboards of Romblon and Oriental Mindoro; northern seaboards of Leyte, Cebu, Iloilo, Capiz, and Aklan – waves as much as 8 meters excessive
• Remaining seaboards of Bicol; southern seaboards of Quezon, Marinduque, and Batangas – waves as much as 6 meters excessive
• Seaboards of Aurora, Occidental Mindoro together with Lubang Island, Romblon, and Polillo Islands; western seaboards of Zambales, Bataan, and Cavite; remaining seaboards of Batangas – waves as much as 5 meters excessive

As much as tough seas (small vessels shouldn’t enterprise out to sea)

• Seaboards of Isabela, Calamian Islands, Cuyo Islands, and Bucas Grande Island; japanese seaboards of Dinagat Islands and Siargao Island; remaining seaboards of Quezon – waves as much as 4 meters excessive
• Japanese seaboards of Cagayan together with Babuyan Islands, Pampanga, Bulacan, and Metro Manila; remaining seaboards of Cavite, Dinagat Islands, and Siargao Island – waves as much as 3.5 meters excessive

As much as reasonable seas (small vessels ought to take precautionary measures or keep away from crusing, if doable)

• Seaboards of Surigao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental; remaining seaboards of Palawan and Visayas – waves as much as 2.5 meters excessive

Opong is the Philippines’ fifteenth tropical cyclone for 2025, and the fifth for September. It entered the Philippine Space of Duty (PAR) on Tuesday, September 23, round 11 hours after the exit of Tremendous Storm Nando (Ragasa).

Opong is anticipated to depart PAR on Saturday. – Rappler.com