Typhoon ‘Paolo’ has left the Philippine Area of Responsibility, said the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
In a statement issued early Sunday, Pagasa indicated that the typhoon made its way 1,345 km east-northeast of Basco, Batanes and heading north-northeast towards Japan.
Paolo is moving away from the Philippines at a fast speed of 30 km per hour and packing maximum winds of 185 km per hour and gustiness of up to 225 km per hour, said Pagasa.
However, the state weather bureau maintained that sea travel in the eastern seaboards of Visayas, southern Luzon and Central Luzon, and all seaboards of northern Luzon is still risky.
Although not making landfall in the Philippines, Paolo caused alarm and near-disasters in various areas in the country including Bohol where landslides were reported and ferry trips were cancelled.
As Paolo lingered east of the country on Friday, at least 15 passengers on board Lite Ferry 26, a roll on-roll off vessel of Lite Shipping Corporation, were rescued after seawater entered the vessel while on its way to Tubigon from Cebu.
According to the crew of Lite Ferry 26, huge waves kept on slamming against the vessel while traversing the seas between Bohol and Cebu.
The ramp then opened “after being repeatedly slammed by huge waves and strong wind.”
No one was injured during the incident as Lite Ferries sent tugboats to respond and rescue the passengers while its troubled vessel made its way back to Cebu.
Several other vessels were also battered by strong waves traversing seas in Central Visayas.