MANILA: Super Typhoon Pepito (international name Man-yi) maintained its strength after making landfall in the province of Aurora and is traversing the landmass of Luzon. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that Pepito made landfall in the vicinity of Dipaculao, Aurora at 3:20 p.m. Sunday and is currently in the vicinity of Nagtipunan town in Quirino.

According to Philippines News Agency, the super typhoon has sustained its intensity, with maximum sustained winds reaching up to 185 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 305 kph. It is moving in a northwest direction at a speed of 25 kph. Pepito initially made its first landfall in Panganiban, Catanduanes on Saturday night.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 5 has been raised over the central portion of Aurora, including Dipaculao, Baler, Dinalungan, Maria Aurora, Casiguran, and San Luis, as well as the southern portion of Quirino (Nagtipunan) and the southern portio
n of Nueva Vizcaya, which includes Alfonso Castañeda, Dupax del Norte, Dupax del Sur, Kasibu, Aritao, and Bambang.

Additionally, TCWS No. 4 is in effect over the rest of Aurora, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and various other regions, including the southern portion of Ifugao, Benguet, and parts of Ilocos Sur, La Union, and the eastern portion of Pangasinan. This signal also covers the northern portion of Nueva Ecija.

Meanwhile, areas under TCWS No. 3 include the southern portion of Isabela, the rest of Ifugao, Mountain Province, the southern portion of Kalinga, the southern portion of Abra, and several other regions, including the northern portions of Bulacan and Quezon, as well as Polillo Islands.

Regions under TCWS No. 2 are the rest of Isabela, southwestern portion of mainland Cagayan, and several areas in Apayao, Abra, Ilocos Norte, Zambales, and other provinces, including Metro Manila and the northeastern portion of Laguna.

Finally, TCWS No. 1 covers the rest of mainland Cagayan, Apayao, Bataan, Cavite, La
guna, Batangas, and other regions, including the northern portions of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, and parts of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur.

Pepito is anticipated to continue its path across the northern portion of Central Luzon and the southern portion of Northern Luzon via the upland regions of the Sierra Madre, Caraballo, and Cordillera Central, and is forecast to exit the Luzon landmass by Sunday night or early Monday morning.