Catanduanes placed under highest alert as Super Typhoon Pepito approaches landfall
Super Typhoon Pepito, also known as Man-yi, is expected to make landfall in Catanduanes on Saturday. The Philippine weather agency has raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 5, the highest alert level, for the province. As of 2 p.m., Pepito was located 180 kilometers east-southeast of Virac, with winds reaching 195 kilometers per hour and gusts up to 240 kilometers per hour. The storm is moving west-northwest at 20 kilometers per hour. In response to the storm, Catanduanes officials have ordered forced evacuations in high-risk areas. The weather agency has also warned of potential storm surges exceeding 3.0 meters in the region.