Super Typhoon Pepito Triggers Devastating Storm Surge in Polillo Islands

Super Typhoon Pepito Causes Storm Surge in Quezon

Super Typhoon Pepito, also known as Man-Yi, brought significant storm surges to the Polillo Islands in Quezon on Sunday morning. Waves from the surge reached the roads, as shown in videos shared on social media.

Residents witnessed strong winds and heavy rain. One video by netizen Lhai Abella on Saturday morning highlighted the storm surge at the New Baywalk in Barangay Poblacion, where trees swayed in the wind.

The local government shared footage of the storm surge in Polillo Island at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday. Many areas in the islands experienced flooding due to the storm.

At 8 a.m. Sunday, PAGASA issued a storm surge warning, indicating a high risk of dangerous water levels within the next 48 hours. Coastal communities in Pangasinan, Aurora, Quezon, and Camarines Norte may face life-threatening inundation and high waves. PAGASA estimated that the storm surge could exceed 3 meters in these regions.

Additionally, a surge between 2.1 to 3 meters is possible in places such as Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Isabela, Bataan, Zambales, Metro Manila, Quezon, and other areas. A rise of 1 to 2 meters may affect Ilocos Norte, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Sorsogon.

PAGASA advised residents in low-lying coastal areas to:

• Stay away from the coast or beach.
• Cancel all marine activities.
• Move to higher ground.
• Stay updated with information from DOST-PAGASA.

The next storm surge warning from PAGASA will be issued at 2 p.m.

At 7 a.m. Sunday, the eye of Pepito was located over the coastal waters of Vinzons, Camarines Norte, with maximum sustained winds at 185 km/h and gusts reaching 255 km/h. The storm was moving northwest at 15 km/h.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 5 was raised over Calaguas Islands and eastern Polillo Islands as Pepito passed near Quezon. The rest of Polillo Islands is under TCWS No. 4.