Typhoon Ompong, with international name Mangkhut, has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday afternoon, September 12.
As of 3 p.m., Ompong has maximum sustained winds of up to 220 kilometers per hour with gustiness of up to 270 kilometers per hour, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
The storm is expected to bring heavy rains while those living in coastal areas are warned of storm surges as high as six meters.
PAG-ASA added that Ompong may bring more rain than Typhoon Ondoy in 2009.
“Kamukha din noong panahon ni Ondoy, habagat din ‘yun. So kung may habagat din siya plus ‘yung ulan mismo ay nanggagaling sa bagyo so puwede siyang (tubig) tumaas. Puwedeng abutin si Ondoy, puwedeng lagpasan ang Ondoy dahil meron itong sinasabi natin na habagat,” said PAG-ASA administrator Vincent Malano.
Signal number 1 is expected to be raised in parts of Eastern Luzon by Wednesday night or Thursday, September 13.
The storm, which the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) already considers as a supertyphoon, will make a landfall in Northern Luzon while Central Luzon and Metro Manila are also expected to be affected by the storm.
Earlier, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Tuesday, September 11, described government preparations as “Yolanda-like” as Typhoon Mangkhut (Ompong) nears the country.
NDRRMC spokesperson Dir. Edgard Posadas said Typhoon Yolanda, dubbed as the strongest typhoon to ever hit the world, left a lot of learnings on preparing for strong typhoons.
Posadas, however, clarified that it is still unclear if Ompong will be as strong as Yolanda.
Military and police personnel alongside the Coast Guard have prepared for rescue and response operations during the storm. A Php1.7 billion standby fund have been allotted for the response operations.
