The Ilocos Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC-1) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) raised its alert status to red effective 8:00 a.m. on Thursday amid the possible effects of Super Typhoon Ofel.
It also activated the Charlie Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Protocol, which indicates high risk.
This, as most parts of Northern Luzon experience the effects of Ofel, with the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan, specifically the municipalities of Santa Ana and Gonzaga, placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 5.
With the red alert status, the RDRRMC-1 said measures such as warning and advisories will regularly be issued, preparedness directives cascaded, all response clusters activated, work and class suspension in effect, communities in high risk areas preemptively evacuated, and rapid deployment teams are deployed in strategic areas.
The RDRRMC-1 member agencies are also strongly advised to raise their alert status to red and activate their respective Emergency Operations Center and to submit anticipated needs, situational reports and actions taken.
In its 11:00 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the center of the eye of Ofel was estimated some 135 kilometers northeast of Echague, Isabela and is moving west northwestward at 15 kilometers per hour (kph).
It is forecast to landfall along the eastern coast of Cagayan on Thursday afternoon as it moves over Babuyan Channel tonight “while making another landfall or passing close to Babuyan Islands.”
Areas in the region that are under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 are the northern portion of Ilocos Norte, namely, Pagudpud, Adams, and Dumalneg; while the rest of Ilocos Norte is under Signal No. 2; and Ilocos Sur, the northern portion of La Union specifically Luna, Sudipen, Bangar, Santol, San Gabriel, Bagulin, Bacnotan, Balaoan, and San Juan are under Signal No. 1. (PNA)