Severe Tropical Storm Bualoi Hits Eastern Samar, Threatens Central Philippines with Strong Winds and Heavy Rain

Severe Tropical Storm Bualoi, known locally as Opong, made its initial landfall over Eastern Samar and is advancing toward Romblon, bringing threats of destructive winds and heavy rainfall, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The storm, which intensified momentarily into typhoon status, first struck San Policarpo, Eastern Samar, at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Thursday. As of the 8:00 a.m. advisory, Bualoi had weakened back to a severe tropical storm with sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour (kph) near its center and gusts reaching up to 150 kph. It was located over the coastal waters of Mandaon, Masbate, and is moving west-northwest at 30 kph with a possibility of making landfall in Romblon.

PAGASA has maintained various tropical cyclone wind signals across more than a dozen locations spanning Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao:

• Signal No. 3 (storm-force winds): Areas in Luzon such as Sorsogon, Masbate, Albay, Camarines Sur, southern Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, both Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Batangas, and southern Laguna. In the Visayas, this includes western Northern Samar, western Samar, northern Biliran, northwestern Capiz, northern Aklan, and the Caluya Islands.

• Signal No. 2 (gale-force winds): Certain parts of Luzon including Catanduanes, other areas of Camarines Sur and Northern Camarines, Quezon (rest), Laguna (rest), Rizal, Cavite, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, and southern Zambales. In the Visayas, areas include the remainder of Northern Samar, northern Eastern Samar, northern and central Samar, rest of Biliran, northern Leyte, northern Cebu with Camotes and Bantayan Islands, northern Negros Occidental, northern Iloilo, remaining Capiz and Aklan, and northwestern Antique.

• Signal No. 1 (strong winds): Additional provinces in Luzon such as Quirino, central and southern Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, remainder of Zambales, Cuyo Islands, and northern mainland Palawan. In the Visayas, this includes the rest of Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, eastern and central Bohol, central Cebu, northern Negros Oriental, central and northern Negros Occidental, central Iloilo, and central Antique. In Mindanao, Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands are under this signal.

Additionally, PAGASA issued a storm surge warning for coastal regions near Bualoi, projecting moderate to high risks of surges up to three meters in areas such as Albay, Batangas, Romblon, and various parts of Samar within the subsequent 24 hours.

In response to the storm's impact, Malacañang Palace announced the suspension of classes and government work on Friday in Metro Manila and several provinces including Biliran, Eastern Samar, Masbate, Northern Samar, Romblon, Samar, and Sorsogon. Classes at all levels were also suspended in Aklan, Albay, Antique, Bataan, Batangas, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Capiz, Cavite, Catanduanes, Guimaras, Iloilo, Laguna, Leyte, Marinduque, Negros Occidental, Oriental Mindoro, Rizal, and Quezon.

Authorities continue to monitor the storm's trajectory and urge residents to remain vigilant and heed safety advisories.