MANILA — Typhoon Opong (international name: Bualoi) has weakened into a Severe Tropical Storm after making landfall over San Policarpo, Eastern Samar, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said early Friday, September 26.

In its 2:00 a.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, PAGASA said Opong’s center was located in the vicinity of Catubig, Northern Samar, with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center, gusts of up to 165 kph, and a central pressure of 975 hPa. It was moving west-northwestward at 30 kph. Strong to typhoon-force winds extend outward up to 460 kilometers from the center.

PAGASA raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 in parts of Bicol and Eastern Visayas, including Sorsogon, the eastern portion of Masbate, Northern Samar, northern and central Eastern Samar, and northern and central Samar. Areas under TCWS No. 4 may experience “significant to severe threat to life and property.”

Signal No. 3 is in effect over the rest of Masbate including Burias Island, Albay, parts of Camarines Sur, southern Quezon, parts of Batangas, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, and northern and central Occidental Mindoro. Other areas across Luzon and Visayas, including Metro Manila, were placed under Signal Nos. 2 and 1.

PAGASA also warned of heavy rainfall, gale-force to typhoon-force winds, very rough to high seas of up to 11 meters, and storm surges exceeding three meters in low-lying coastal areas across Bicol, Eastern Visayas, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and Metro Manila.

After crossing Eastern Visayas, Opong is expected to head toward the Bicol Region for another possible landfall in Sorsogon or Masbate before traversing parts of CALABARZON and northern MIMAROPA. The storm may weaken while over land but could re-intensify once it emerges over the West Philippine Sea.