Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-wong) is ‘rapidly intensifying’ as it moves closer to Catanduanes province, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its latest bulletin on early Sunday morning.
Pagasa in its 5 a.m. update said that Uwan was last seen 195 kilometers east of Catanduanes, and has maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 215 kph.
It is still moving west-northwest at a speed of 35 kph.
Uwan’s current forecast track shows that it will continue moving west-northwest. By Sunday afternoon, it would be over the waters north of Camarines Norte and Quezon province, particularly 180 kilometers east northeast of Infanta town. It is expected to be a super typhoon category cyclone by this time.
If this current track is followed by Uwan, by Sunday night, it may make landfall over the Isabela-Aurora area, cross the Luzon landmass, and emerge over La Union by early Monday morning.
However, Pagasa’s cone of probability shows there is still a chance that Uwan makes a southward nudge and grazes the northern part of Catanduanes.
Due to Uwan’s rapid intensification and fast approach towards the country’s landmass, more areas have been placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4:
Polillo Islands
eastern and central portions of Camarines Norte (Mercedes, Daet, Talisay, Vinzons, Capalonga, Labo, Paracale, Jose Panganiban, San Vicente, San Lorenzo Ruiz, Basud)
eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Sagñay, Tigaon, Goa, Calabanga, Tinambac, Siruma, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, San Jose, Presentacion, Caramoan, Cabusao)
Catanduanes
eastern portion of Albay (Rapu-Rapu, Bacacay, City of Tabaco, Malilipot, Malinao, Tiwi)
The following areas are under Signal No. 3:
Luzon:
southern portion of mainland Cagayan (Tuao, Enrile, Solana, Tuguegarao City, Peñablanca, Iguig)
Isabela
Quirino
Nueva Vizcaya
Kalinga
southern portion of Abra (Malibcong, Daguioman, Manabo, Luba, Boliney, Sallapadan, Bucloc, Tubo, Villaviciosa, Licuan-Baay, Pilar, San Isidro, Bucay)
Mountain Province
Ifugao
Benguet
central and southern portions of Ilocos Sur (City of Candon, Gregorio del Pilar, San Esteban, Banayoyo, Cervantes, Burgos, Santa Lucia, Santiago, Lidlidda, Nagbukel, Suyo, Sigay, Galimuyod, Quirino, San Emilio, Alilem, Sugpon, Tagudin, Santa Cruz, Santa Maria, Narvacan, Salcedo)
La Union
Pangasinan
Zambales
Bataan
Tarlac
Pampanga
Nueva Ecija
Bulacan
Aurora
Metro Manila
Cavite
eastern portion of Batangas (Padre Garcia, Santo Tomas, Lipa City, City of Tanauan, Mataas Na Kahoy, Balete, San Juan, Rosario, Malvar, Talisay, San Nicolas, Laurel)
Laguna
Rizal
the rest of Quezon
the rest of Camarines Norte
the rest of Camarines Sur
the rest of Albay
Sorsogon
Ticao and Burias Islands
Visayas:
Northern Samar
northern portion of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Arteche, San Policarpo, Oras, Dolores, Maslog)
northern portion of Samar (Calbayog City, Matuguinao, Gandara, Santa Margarita)
Signal No. 2:
Luzon:
the rest of Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands
Apayao
the rest of Abra
Ilocos Norte
the rest of Ilocos Sur
the rest of Batangas
northern and central portions of Occidental Mindoro (Abra de Ilog, Paluan, Sablayan, Santa Cruz, Mamburao) including Lubang Islands
northern and central portions of Oriental Mindoro (Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Baco, City of Calapan, Naujan, Pola, Victoria, Socorro, Pinamalayan, Gloria, Bansud, Bongabong, Roxas)
Marinduque
northern and eastern portions of Romblon (Banton, Cajidiocan, Romblon, San Andres, Magdiwang, Calatrava, San Agustin, San Fernando, Concepcion, Corcuera, Alcantara, Odiongan, Ferrol, Santa Maria, Looc)
the rest of Masbate
Visayas:
the rest of Eastern Samar
the rest of Samar
Biliran
northern portion of Leyte (Leyte, Calubian, San Isidro, Tabango, Capoocan, Carigara, Barugo, San Miguel, Babatngon, Tacloban City, Alangalang, Tunga, Palo, Santa Fe)
Signal No. 1:
Luzon:
Batanes
the rest of Romblon
the rest of Oriental Mindoro
the rest of Occidental Mindoro
Calamian Islands
Cuyo Islands
Visayas:
the rest of Leyte
Southern Leyte
Bohol
northern and central portions of Cebu (Medellin, Daanbantayan, City of Bogo, Tabogon, San Remigio, Tabuelan, Borbon, Sogod, Tuburan, Catmon, Carmen, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Cordova, Asturias, Cebu City, Balamban, City of Talisay, Toledo City, Minglanilla, Dumanjug, Argao, Sibonga, Barili, Ronda, Moalboal, Badian, Dalaguete, Alcantara, City of Carcar, City of Naga, San Fernando, Pinamungahan, Aloguinsan) including Bantayan and Camotes Islands
northern and central portions of Negros Occidental (City of Escalante, Toboso, Sagay City, Cadiz City, Calatrava, Manapla, City of Victorias, Enrique B. Magalona, Silay City, City of Talisay, San Carlos City, Salvador Benedicto, Murcia, Bacolod City, Hinigaran, City of Himamaylan, Binalbagan, Isabela, Moises Padilla, La Castellana, Pontevedra, San Enrique, La Carlota City, Bago City, Valladolid, Pulupandan)
northern portion of Negros Oriental (Canlaon City, Jimalalud, La Libertad, Tayasan, Vallehermoso, City of Guihulngan)
Guimaras
Iloilo
Capiz
Aklan
Antique
Mindanao:
Dinagat Islands
Surigao del Norte
northern portion of Agusan del Norte (Tubay, Santiago, Jabonga, Kitcharao)
northern portion of Surigao del Sur (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza, Cortes)
Different local government units and netizens have posted photos and videos on social media showing how Uwan has started to bring strong winds and rains over Bicol Region.
In its Facebook page, Camarines Norte’s Provincial Information Office uploaded several videos on its Facebook page showing how rain has started to pour down over Jose Panganiban town.
In a video uploaded by Donald Butial, small trees in Naga City also appeared to be shaken due to Uwan’s strong winds.
Butial said the clips were taken around 3:00 a.m. on Sunday.
Other netizens uploaded videos of strong rains in Catanduanes, which is also expected to bear Uwan’s brunt. In a separate advisory, the First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative Inc. (Ficelco) said that a total plant shutdown was conducted early Sunday morning ‘for the safe preparation and securing of their power generation facilities.’ /mr