The latest storm information 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, the northernmost Philippines.
The strongest wind near the center of the storm is 175 km/h, gusting up to 240 km/h, the central pressure is 940 hPa, the radius of influence is 560 km from the center of the storm.
PAGASA issued storm warning No. 4, warning of level 12 winds (118 to 184 km/h), seriously threatening life and property. PAGASA also warned of heavy rains and coastal flooding due to Typhoon Yinxing.
Rough seas with waves up to 12 m high on the coast of Babuyan Islands and Ilocos Norte; northern coast of mainland Cagayan.
PAGASA forecasts that after making landfall in Santa Ana, Cagayan will move westward, passing Aparri Bay for a short time and making a second landfall along the northwest coast of mainland Cagayan.
The storm is expected to enter the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) early tomorrow morning (November 8), becoming the 7th storm in the South China Sea in 2024.
After crossing the northern part of Northern Luzon, the storm will continue to move westward and exit the Philippine Forecast Area (PAR) tomorrow afternoon or evening (November 8).
PAGASA had previously forecast the storm to make landfall at maximum intensity, not excluding the possibility of reaching super typhoon level, although this would only last for a short time.
The storm is likely to weaken during the day due to interaction with the terrain of mainland Luzon during the landfall period.
On November 7, the Philippines evacuated thousands of people from coastal communities ahead of the major storm. Yinxing is the third typhoon in less than a month to threaten the Philippines after severe tropical storm Trami and super typhoon Kong-rey 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 making landfall in the area, according to AFP.
PAGASA said Cagayan, home to about 1.3 million people, could be hardest hit by Typhoon Yinxing.
In Ilocos Norte province near Cagayan, rescue forces were on standby to assist local police, firefighters and soldiers in emergency response. Forces are closely monitoring possible landslides, floods and rising river levels in the province.
Disaster officials in the mountainous province of Apayao said nearly 500 people had been evacuated.
Schools have been closed in many northern areas and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos has put all government agencies on high alert.
"Remember, every life is important, so we must always be prepared," President Marcos said in a statement on November 6.
