'Ofel' bringing rains to Luzon

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical storm “Ofel” (international name Jangmi) has entered the Philippine area of responsibility and is expected to strengthen into a typhoon within the next 12 to 24 hours, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said yesterday.

Pagasa weather forecaster Rene Paciente said Ofel would continue to bring rain showers over the Bicol Region and the rest of Luzon including Metro Manila and could intensify into a typhoon as it moves closer to extreme northern Luzon.

Ofel is the 15th tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the third this month.

“Because it is still far from the country, the possibility of making landfall is still there,” Paciente said in a phone interview.

At 2 p.m. yesterday, Ofel was spotted some 830 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes, packing winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 120 kph.

Ofel was forecast to move northwest at 26 kph.

No public storm-warning signal was raised as of yesterday afternoon.

Ofel is expected to make landfall at 660 kms east northeast of Virac this morning; at 570 kms north northeast of Virac or 530 kms east of Aparri, Cagayan tomorrow morning; and at 320 kms north northeast of Aparri or 160 kms northeast of Basco, Batanes by Sunday morning.

Paciente said Ofel would continue to enhance the southwest monsoon in the next two to three days.

Visayas and Mindanao would experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers becoming widespread over the Bicol region and the Visayas within the next 24 hours, he added.

Pagasa predicted Ofel to exit the country by Sunday afternoon and the public can expect improved weather conditions by Monday.

Meanwhile, monsoon rains triggered flooding that left at least six people dead and worsened conditions for tens of thousands of people who fled fighting in Mindanao, officials yesterday said.

The rains battered the southern island of Mindanao, leaving at least six people dead in various towns, while three people were injured in Cotabato City and neighboring areas, the civil defense office said in a statement.

At least 12 houses were destroyed, the office said, adding that 365,000 people have been affected by the rains.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said heavy floods worsened the plight of civilians displaced by fighting between the government and Muslim rebels in Maguindanao province.

In the town of Datu Piang, people who had fled the conflict were forced to crowd into schools, mosques, hospitals, courtyards and markets or set up makeshift shelters on the sides of the highway, said Red Cross deputy head Christoph Sutter.

“Places like Datu Piang in central Mindanao are literally becoming islands surrounded by water,” Sutter said, adding that the town of 8,000 was trying to accommodate 40,000 people.

The flooding has made it harder for aid groups to deliver relief, the ICRC said. - Helen Flores