TYPHOON Ambo made landfall over the town of San Policarpio in Eastern Samar at noon Thursday, “bringing violent winds and heavy to intense rains over the northern portion of Samar and the southern portion of Northern Samar,” weather bureau PAGASA reported. Ambo, which has been designated the international name Vongfong, was packing winds of 155 kilometers per hours (km/h) near the center and gustiness of up to 255 km/h. It was moving west at a speed of 15 km/h. As of Thursday afternoon, typhoon signal #3 was up in Eastern Visayas areas as well as in several Luzon areas, including Sorsogon, Albay, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, and the southernmost portion of Quezon. Local disaster management teams have started preemptive evacuation of residents in areas prone to flooding and landslides.

The Camarines Sur provincial government also reminded local governments that while forced evacuation in hazardous areas is in effect, “Social distancing and standard health and safety protocols against COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) should be observed.”

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