Typhoon Odette intensifies, may make landfall Thursday afternoon

Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) has further intensified and is projected to make landfall on Thursday afternoon in the Eastern Visayas or Caraga region.

Four areas are currently under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 as Odette intensified on Thursday morning, endangering Bucas Grande-Siargao Islands and Dinagat Islands.

Odette is now packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour with gusts of up to 230 kph.

PAGASA expects very destructive typhoon-force winds of up to 185 km/h in areas under TCWS No. 4, which may cause generally heavy to very heavy damage to structures and vegetation.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal Number 3 was raised over southern Leyte, southern and central portions of Cebu, the rest of Bohol, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, southern and central portions of Negros Occidental, and Guimaras.

Areas under TCWS No. 3 also include the southern portion of Leyte, the eastern portion of Bohol, northern Agusan del Norte, and northern Surigao del Sur.