Severe Tropical Storm Opong Escalates In Luzon And Visayas, Raising Warnings And Impacting Tourism In Philippines: Latest Updates

Published on September 25, 2025

The Philippines is connected heightened alert as Severe Tropical Storm Opong continues to fortify while moving west-northwestward complete nan Philippine Sea. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised Signal No. 2 warnings successful further areas crossed Luzon and Visayas, signaling expanding risks from beardown winds and adverse weather. Meanwhile, galore different provinces, including Metro Manila, stay nether Signal No. 1, nan first level of tropical cyclone warning, arsenic Opong advances towards nan Bicol region. These developments transportation important implications for section communities, travelers, and nan tourism assemblage successful nan archipelago.

Expanded Areas nether Signal No. 2: Increased Risk Zones

In Luzon, Signal No. 2 has been raised for nan provinces of:

• Catanduanes
• Southern Albay municipalities including Santo Domingo, Legazpi City, Camalig, Rapu-Rapu, Bacacay, Daraga, Jovellar, and Manito
• Sorsogon

In Visayas, nan informing extends to:

• Northern Samar
• Northern and cardinal parts of Eastern Samar, covering Can-Avid, Maslog, San Policarpo, Taft, Dolores, Jipapad, Oras, Arteche, Sulat, and San Julian
• Northern and cardinal portions of Samar including San Jorge, San Sebastian, Villareal, Zumarraga, and different communities

Signal No. 1 Warnings Cover Wide Regions, Including Metro Manila

Remaining under Signal No. 1 are cardinal provinces and municipality centers specified as:

• Metro Manila
• Albay (excluding confederate areas), Masbate (including Ticao and Burias Islands), Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Marinduque, Romblon
• Oriental and Occidental Mindoro (including Lubang Islands)
• Quezon (including Polillo Islands), Rizal, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite, Aurora
• Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, Bataan
• Central and confederate Isabela municipalities (Alicia, San Mateo, Aurora, Ramon, and others)
• Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, southwestern Mountain Province (Bauko, Sabangan, Tadian), Benguet
• Southern Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan
• Remaining parts of Eastern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte
• Northern portions of Cebu, including Camotes and Bantayan Islands
• Northern Negros Occidental and Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, and parts of Antique including Caluya and Calamian Islands

Movement and Strength of Opong

Traveling astatine approximately twenty kilometers per hour, Opong was located about four 100 forty kilometers eastbound of Guiuan, Eastern Samar at nan latest report. It carries maximum sustained winds of 1 100 10 kph, pinch gusts reaching up to one 100 thirty-five kph. PAGASA forecasts its landfall complete the Bicol region by Friday day aliases evening, pinch nan cyclone continuing to transverse Southern Luzon nan aforesaid day.

Opong is expected to intensify further complete nan lukewarm Philippine Sea, perchance upgrading to a typhoon earlier making landfall. It is projected to time off the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Saturday day aliases evening.

Tourism Sector and Safety Implications

The heightened warnings awesome imminent disruptions peculiarly successful areas heavy reliant connected tourism specified arsenic Bicol and Visayas. Coastal resorts, land destinations, and quality tourism activities look imaginable impermanent closures and information restrictions. Visitors and tourism operators are urged to show section advisories closely, unafraid accommodations, and contingency arrangements for cancellations aliases recreation delays.

Additionally, beardown winds and dense rains airs risks to outdoor tourer sites and proscription networks including ferries and mini boats, devices heavy utilized successful nan archipelago’s move tourism scene.

Preparing Communities and Travelers for Severe Weather

In consequence to nan escalating threat, section authorities units and disaster consequence guidance offices person mobilized resources, prioritizing removal plans and logistical support to safeguard susceptible populations.

Tourists presently successful affected regions are advised to travel information protocols, debar unnecessary travel, and enactment updated pinch announcements from charismatic sources including nan Department of Tourism and PAGASA.

Outlook and Ongoing Monitoring

PAGASA continues to rumor regular upwind updates, pinch nan adjacent advisory expected early Friday. Authorities support that nan highest informing level Opong mightiness scope is Signal No. 4, depending connected large wind intensity.

As nan large wind approaches, regular reassessments of signals and preparedness measures will guideline consequence efforts aimed astatine protecting lives, tourism assets, and section economies.