Super Typhoon Lawin makes landfall in Cagayan

What’s the weather like in your area? Report the situation through Rappler’s Agos or tweet us at @rapplerdotcom. 

For the latest updates on Typhoon Lawin (Haima), go to our live blog

MANILA, Philippines – Super Typhoon Lawin (Haima) made landfall in Peñablanca, Cagayan at 11 pm on Wednesday, October 19.

In its bulletin issued 11 pm on Wednesday, state weather bureau PAGASA said Lawin maintained its strength, with maximum winds of up to 225 km/h and gustiness of up to 315 km/h.

After making landfall, it will now cross Ilocos Norte and Apayao.

Below is the complete list of areas under warning signals.

Signal number 5:

• Cagayan
• Isabela
• Kalinga
• Apayao
• northern Abra
• Ilocos Norte

Signal number 4:

• rest of Abra
• Ilocos Sur
• Mt Province
• Ifugao
• Calayan Group of Islands

Signal number 3:

• La Union
• Benguet
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Quirino
• northern Aurora

Signal number 2:

• Batanes
• Pangasinan
• rest of Aurora
• Tarlac
• Nueva Ecija
• northern Zambales
• northern Quezon including Polillo Island

Signal number 1:

• rest of Zambales
• Bulacan
• Bataan
• Pampanga
• Rizal
• rest of Quezon
• Cavite
• Laguna
• Batangas
• Metro Manila
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes
• Albay

PAGASA forecaster Aldczar Aurelio earlier warned that the destruction could be close to what the Philippines experienced during the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in November 2013.

“Ano po ang mararanasan po nila (areas under signal number 5)? Delubyo po. Hindi nalalayo sa pinsala ng Yolanda,” he said.

(What will areas under signal number 5 experience? It may be catastrophic, not far from the destruction caused by Yolanda.)

Moderate to intense rain is expected within Lawin’s 800-km diameter.

Powerful winds in areas under signal number 4 or 5 “can destroy high- to low-risk structures” as well as topple trees and transmission towers, according to PAGASA.

Storm surges up to 5 meters high are also possible in Cagayan (including the Calayan Group of Islands), Isabela, northern Aurora, and Ilocos Norte.

Sea travel is risky in the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon and the northern and eastern seaboards of Samar.

Lawin is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Thursday night.

– Rappler.com