The latest storm news from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that at 3:30 p.m. on November 7, Typhoon Yinxing (called Marce in the Philippines) made landfall in the vicinity of Santa Ana, Cagayan, in the northernmost part of the Philippines.
The strongest wind near the storm center is 175 km/h, gusting up to 240 km/h, central pressure is 940 hPa, radius of influence is 560km from the storm center.
PAGASA issued a storm warning number 4, warning of wind speed 12 (118 to 184 km/h), posing a serious threat to life and property. PAGASA also warned of heavy rains and coastal flooding due to Typhoon Yinxing.
Rough seas with waves up to 12m high on the coasts of Babuyan Islands and Ilocos Norte; north coast of mainland Cagayan.
PAGASA forecasts that Typhoon Marce, after making landfall in Santa Ana, Cagayan, will move westward, briefly crossing Aparri Bay and make a second landfall along the northwest coast of mainland Cagayan.
The storm is expected to enter the West Philippine Sea (East Sea) early tomorrow morning (November 8), becoming the 7th storm in the East Sea in 2024.
After crossing the northern part of Northern Luzon, the storm will continue moving westward and exit the Philippine Forecast Area (PAR) by tomorrow afternoon or evening (November 8).
Previously, PAGASA predicted that the storm would make landfall with maximum intensity, not excluding the possibility of reaching super typhoon level, although this would only last for a short time.
The storm is expected to weaken during the day due to interaction with the terrain of mainland Luzon during landfall.
The Philippines evacuated thousands of people from coastal communities on November 7 ahead of a major storm. Yinxing is the third storm to threaten the Philippines in less than a month, following severe tropical storm Trami and super typhoon Kong-rey that killed 158 people.
At least 17,000 people from coastal areas of Cagayan province moved to temporary shelters on November 6 to avoid potential flooding due to heavy rains hitting the area, AFP reported.
PAGASA said Cagayan, home to about 1.3 million people, could be hardest hit by Typhoon Yinxing.
In Ilocos Norte province near Cagayan, rescue workers were on standby to assist local police, firefighters and soldiers in emergency response. Forces were closely monitoring possible landslides, flooding and rising river levels in the province.
Disaster officials in the mountainous province of Apayao said nearly 500 people had been evacuated.
Schools were closed in many northern areas and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos placed all government agencies on high alert.
"Remember, every life matters so we must always be prepared," President Marcos said in a statement on November 6.
