Signal No. 3 over parts of Palawan, Western Visayas as 'Odette' nears 9th landfall

By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz

Typhoon "Odette" (international name: "Rai") was already over the Sulu Sea, between Cuyo and Cagayancillo Islands, on its way to the northern or central part of Palawan for possible ninth landfall Friday morning or afternoon, Dec. 17, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

As of 7 a.m., the center of the eye of Odette was estimated at 155 kilometers west-southwest of Iloilo City or 90 km south-southeast of Cuyo, Palawan.

The typhoon was moving westward at 25 kilometers per hour (kph) while packing maximum sustained winds of 155 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 235 kph.

Due to the continuous stormy weather conditions, Signal No. 3 remains hoisted over the northern portion of Palawan including Cagayancillo and Cuyo Islands, Guimaras, southern portion of Iloilo, and southern portion of Antique.

Signal No. 2 also remains in effect in the southern portion of Oriental Mindoro, southern portion of Occidental Mindoro, western portion of Romblon, central portion of Palawan including Kalayaan and Calamian Islands, Aklan, Capiz, the rest of Iloilo, the rest of Antique, Guimaras, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, and the southern portion of Cebu.

Meanwhile, the western portion of Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Marinduque, southern portion of Quezon, the rest of Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, the rest of Oriental Mindoro, the rest of Palawan, the rest of Romblon, Batangas, western portion of Northern Samar, western portion of Samar, Bohol, Biliran, Leyte, western portion of Southern Leyte, the rest of Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, Siquijor, northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte, and northern portion of Misamis Occidental remain under Signal No. 1

Tropical cyclone wind signals hoisted in other areas have been lifted, PAGASA said.

"Destructive typhoon-force winds will be experienced within any of the areas where TCWS (tropical cyclone wind signal) No. 3 is in effect. This may bring moderate to heavy damage to structures and vegetation," it added.

Damaging winds reaching gale- to storm-force strength may also be experienced within any of the areas where Signal No. 2 is in effect, while strong winds with higher gusts may affect the areas where Signal No. 1 is currently in effect during the passage of the typhoon.

PAGASA said that heavy to torrential rains may still prevail over Western Visayas, Palawan including Calamian, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo Islands, and Negros Oriental Friday.

Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains may also persist in Bicol, Zamboanga Peninsula, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque, and the rest of Palawan, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains may prevail over Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Caraga, Northern Mindanao, Aurora, Lanao del Sur, and the rest of Visayas.

By Saturday, Dec. 18, heavy to torrential rains may prevail over Kalayaan Islands, while moderate to heavy rains may affect Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Quezon, and Aurora.

Meanwhile, light to moderate with at times heavy rains may persist in Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Metro Manila, Eastern Visayas, Rizal, Bulacan, mainland Palawan including Calamian Islands, and the rest of Bicol region.

"Under these conditions, scattered to widespread flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides are expected especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazard as identified in hazard maps, and in localities with significant antecedent rainfall," PAGASA said.

Odette is expected to move generally westward and make landfall over northern or central portion of Palawan Friday morning or afternoon.

"After re-emerging over the West Philippine Sea tonight (Dec. 17), Odette is forecast to pass in the vicinity of Kalayaan Islands tomorrow (Dec. 18)," PAGASA said.

Odette has so far made landfall eight times. These were in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte (1:30 p.m., Dec. 16); Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands (3:10 p.m., Dec. 16); Liloan, Southern Leyte (4:50 p.m., Dec. 16); Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte (5:40 p.m., Dec. 16); President Carlos P. Garcia, Bohol (6:30 p.m., Dec. 16); Bien Unido, Bohol (7:30 p.m., Dec. 16); Carcar, Cebu (10 p.m., Dec. 16); and La Libertad, Negros Oriental (12 a.m., Dec. 17).