Legazpi City — Even before Super Typhoon Pepito hit land, powerful storm surges slammed the provinces of Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte on Saturday morning.
The water level in the coastal towns in Albay, including in Legazpi City, experienced unusual elevations at 6 a.m.
In Tiwi town, the sea water also reached the houses in Lourdes village.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), meanwhile, issued a red storm surge warning in Catanduanes at 8 a.m.
“Strong waves that could reach three meters or more are expected on the coasts. At the same time, it is possible to experience widespread and severe flooding, especially in households near rivers,” the advisory said.
“All residents are strongly reminded to immediately evacuate to higher and safer places to avoid any danger caused by the approaching typhoon. Please be careful and follow the notice of your local authorities.”
The Legazpi City was also inundated by the surge driven by strong winds. Videos also surfaced on social media showing big waves slamming the shore and sea water reaching Legazpi Boulevard.
“The Storm Surge Warning is now up in the province of Albay and it is possible that the wave height will increase to 2.1-3 meters,” Pagasa said.
Pagasa also warned that a high risk of storm surge may occur within the next 48 hours.
” There is a possibility of life-threatening inundation from rising sea water along with high waves in the low-lying coastal communities in some municipalities in the provinces.”
Pagasa estimated the height of the storm surge as more than 3 meters in the provinces of Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, and Quezon; 2.1 to 3 meters in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Sorsogon including Isabela, La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, Batangas, Quezon, Marinduque, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, and Western Samar; and 1 to 2 meters in Ilocal Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Zambales, Metro Maila, Cavite, Batangas and Sorsogon.
Residents living in the low-lying coastal communities are still advised to stay away from the coast or beach, cancel all marine activities and to follow the latest updates from Pagasa.
The public and the disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned are advised to take appropriate actions and precautionary measures.
Storm signal No. 4 is now raised over Catanduanes and northeastern Camarines Sur.
Signal No. 3 is in effect over parts of Bicol Region and Samar island.
Wind signal No. 5 is the highest wind warning that will be raised during Pepito’s passage.
At 10:00 a.m. Saturday, the super typhoon was located 250 km east of Juban, Sorsogon, packing winds of 185 kph with gusts up to 230 kph. It is moving west northwestward at 25 kph.
