Tropical Cyclone Marce, internationally known as Yinxing, intensified into a typhoon as it nears Northern Luzon on Tuesday, November 5. According to PAGASA, as of 10 a.m., Marce was located 640 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora. Typhoon Yinxing is packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near its center, with gusts reaching up to 150 kph, and is moving west-northwest at a speed of 30 kph.
Several areas, including Batanes, Cagayan, and Ilocos Norte, are under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1, with strong winds or intermittent rains expected within 36 hours. Severe winds are anticipated, and Signal No. 4 could be hoisted if conditions worsen. Gale warnings remain in effect for the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon, where hazardous sea conditions are expected.
Marce could make landfall in the Babuyan Islands or northern Cagayan between Thursday night and Friday morning, bringing heavy rains, strong winds, and rough seas. The typhoon is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by late Friday or early Saturday.
Evacuations and Preparations Underway as Typhoon Yinxing Approaches
The Philippines has ordered evacuations, stockpiled supplies, and placed troops on alert as Typhoon Yinxing approaches. Also, water is being releasing from damns in advance to prevent flooding.
Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro urged residents in remote areas to evacuate early, as rescue operations may be difficult once the storm hits. “Government agencies are working together to issue warnings, plan ahead, and ensure essential goods and services are ready,” Teodoro stated during a briefing. The typhoon is expected to make landfall later this week.
The storm could hit northern Cagayan province between Thursday night and Friday morning, bringing heavy rains to its path, though there’s still a chance it could change course, said Pag-asa’s Nathaniel Servando. Around 24 million people could be affected, according to civil defense administrator Ariel Nepomuceno.
This comes just after yesterday’s national mourning for victims of Typhoon Kristine, which killed 151 people, reminding the country of the importance of better disaster preparedness.
