PAGASA lifts storm signals in many areas, as Odette moves towards West Philippine Sea

MANILA (UPDATED)— PAGASA on Friday evening lifted storm signals in several areas as Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) moved towards the West Philippine Sea, hours after it made its 9th landfall over Roxas, Palawan.

In its 11 p.m. advisory, the state weather bureau said the storm maintained its maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph.

Odette was last spotted 105 km northwest of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, and was moving west at 20 kph.

"While over the West Philippine sea, the typhoon is forecast to move west northwestward and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility tomorrow morning or early afternoon," PAGASA said.

The country's 15th tropical cyclone this year, which has killed at least 12 and forced thousands of residents to flee in the Visayas and Mindanao, was forecast to cross Kalayaan Islands on Saturday.

• READ: Typhoon Odette leaves at least 12 dead in central, southern Philippines

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 remained over the northern portion of Palawan, including the Kalayaan Islands.

PAGASA also raised signal no. 2 over the central portion of Palawan (Narra, Sofronio Española, Quezon, Aborlan, Rizal, Brooke's Point) including Calamian.

Meanwhile, the rest of Palawan Cuyo and Cagayancillo Islands were placed under signal no. 1.

PAGASA said that from Friday night to Saturday, heavy to torrential rains will fall in Kalayaan Islands, while moderate to heavy rains will be experienced in mainland Palawan, Calamian Islands, Quezon, Camarines Provinces, Catanduanes, and Aurora.

The agency warned of scattered to widespread flooding and rain-induced landslides in affected areas.

More than 300,000 people had sought emergency shelter as the typhoon charged across the Pacific Ocean and smashed into the country, the agency said. About 18,000 had yet to return home.

Communications were still down in Siargao, which took the brunt of the storm.

In a statement Friday night, Globe said it has restored services in Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay and Bukidnon as of 6 p.m.

• READ: Typhoon Odette makes 9th landfall over Palawan

Free charging stations are also available at Shell stations, and some areas in Borongan City, Eastern Samar and at Sebayan Central Elementary School in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte.

"Globe’s field operations teams in Visayas and Mindanao are continuously working to restore mobile and data services in areas that were affected by typhoon Odette," the statement read.

The Philippines -- ranked as one of the world's most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change -- is hit by an average of 20 tropical cyclones every year, which typically wipe out harvests, homes and infrastructure in already impoverished areas. - With a report from Agence France-Presse

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