Super Typhoon Rosita — the most powerful storm to threaten the Philippines in three years — has rapidly intensified over the warm waters of the Philippine Sea and is now forecast to make landfall along the Eastern Samar coastline between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. Saturday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced Tuesday afternoon.
Current Intensity
As of the 5 p.m. bulletin, Rosita carried maximum sustained winds of 250 kilometers per hour near the center with gusts of up to 305 kph — classifying it as a Category 5-equivalent on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The storm’s central pressure has dropped to 900 hectopascals, one of the lowest ever recorded for a Pacific typhoon at this latitude.
PAGASA chief Ariel Rojas warned the public not to draw comfort from the storm’s current track, noting that Rosita could still shift northward toward Quezon province or southward toward Leyte.
Signal Warnings
- Signal No. 4 (extremely destructive typhoon-force winds): Eastern Samar, Northern Samar
- Signal No. 3 (destructive typhoon-force winds): Western Samar, Leyte, Biliran, Masbate, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, Quezon
Evacuation Orders
Governor Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar ordered a mandatory total evacuation of all coastal barangays and communities within 10 kilometers of river banks on Tuesday, warning that storm surge could reach heights of 6 to 9 meters — comparable to the deadly surge that killed more than 6,000 people in Tacloban during Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.
“Do not wait. Leave now while roads are passable,” Governor Evardone said in a Facebook Live address.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 47 prepositioned response teams have been deployed across Region 8, with 120 tons of food and non-food items staged at four strategic hubs.
National Government Response
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. cut short a state visit to Japan and flew back to Manila Tuesday evening, chairing an emergency NDRRMC meeting at Malacañang Palace. The President declared a State of Calamity in Regions 5, 8, and 12, unlocking ₱3.8 billion in quick-response funds.
Classes and work suspensions were announced for provinces under Signal No. 2 and above effective Wednesday.
PAGASA’s next bulletin will be issued at 11 p.m. Tuesday. The Point News will provide live updates.