Severe Tropical Storm Opong (international name: Bualoi) is now moving toward the West Philippine Sea after making six landfalls in Eastern Visayas, Bicol, and Southern Luzon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Friday, Sept. 26.

PAGASA said Opong first struck San Policarpo, Eastern Samar at 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 25.

It then made successive landfalls in Palanas, Masbate at 4 a.m. on Friday; Milagros, Masbate at 5:30 a.m.; San Fernando, Romblon at 8:10 a.m.; Alcantara, Romblon at 9:20 a.m.; and Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro at 11:30 a.m.

As of 1 p.m., the center of Opong was located over San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, moving west at 20 kilometers per hour (kph).

It packed maximum sustained winds of 110 kph near the center, gustiness of up to 150 kph

After emerging over the Mindoro Strait Friday afternoon, PAGASA said Opong will continue westward and re-intensify into a typhoon within 12 hours while crossing the West Philippine Sea.

It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Saturday afternoon, Sept. 27.

Meanwhile, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals 3, 2, and 1 remain hoisted over parts of Luzon and Visayas.

* Signal No. 3 (storm-force winds): Batangas, Marinduque, Romblon, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Calamian Islands, northwestern portion of Aklan, and Caluya Islands.

* Signal No. 2 (gale-force winds): Southern portion of Zambales, Bataan, southern portion of Pampanga, southern portion of Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, central and southern portions of Quezon, Cuyo Islands, northern portion of Palawan, western portion of Masbate, including Burias Island, northern portion of Antique, the rest of Aklan, Capiz, and northern portion of Iloilo.

* Signal No. 1 (strong winds): Pangasinan, the rest of Zambales, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, southern portion of Aurora, the rest of Pampanga, the rest of Bulacan, the rest of Quezon, northern portion of Palawan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, the rest of Masbate, the rest of Antique, the rest of Iloilo, Guimaras, northern and central portions of Negros Occidental, northern portion of Negros Oriental, northern and central portion of Cebu, including Bantayan Islands and Camotes Islands, northern portion of Bohol, Northern Samar, Samar, northern and central portions of Eastern Samar, Biliran, and Leyte.

PAGASA advised residents in affected areas to remain vigilant against strong winds, heavy rainfall, flooding, and landslides.