Two provinces in Visayas were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal no. 2 as ''Opong'' intensifies into a severe tropical storm Wednesday as it approaches Bicol and Southern Luzon.

Opong with maximum sustained winds of 95 kph and gustiness of up to 115 kph was last spotted at 670 km east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte while moving west northwestward at the speed of 20kph.

Signal number 2 was raised over the areas of Northern Samar and the northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Oras, Jipapad, Arteche) while the provinces of Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate in Luzon as well as the areas of Samar, the rest of Eastern Samar, Biliran, and the northern portion of Leyte (Barugo, San Miguel, Babatngon, Tacloban City, Calubian, Leyte, Capoocan, Carigara, Palo) were placed under signal number one due to ''Opong''.

Based on its forecast track, "Opong may make landfall over Bicol Region by Friday (26 September) morning or afternoon and cross Southern Luzon throughout Friday".

It also noted that ''Opong'' is expected to "continue to intensify while over the Philippine Sea and may reach typhoon category before making landfall over Bicol Region."

"It will then weaken as it crosses the archipelago, although it will likely remain as a typhoon or severe tropical storm during the passage. Re-intensification is highly likely once 'Opong' emerges over the West Philippine Sea," it added.

''Opong'' is forecast to move "generally west northwestward over the West Philippine Sea and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday (27 September)". Robina Asido/DMS