Typhoon Ofel (international name: Usagi) weakened sharply on Friday after bearing down on the Philippines' northern towns, blowing away houses in its path as authorities brace for another cyclone that could hit the capital Manila over the weekend.

Pepito intensified further and neared super typhoon strength on Friday morning while typhoon Ofel continued to weaken after striking northern Luzon, the state weather bureau said.

PAGASA explained that Ofel is now in an area where the environment is currently “favorable” for tropical cyclone intensification. Due to this, the weather bureau is not ruling out super typhoon status for Ofel.

MANILA – Ofel (international name Usagi) has intensified into a super typhoon, the weather bureau said Thursday. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Ofel is packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kph near the center and gustiness of

State weather bureau PAGASA has raised Signal No. 4 over parts of Cagayan as Typhoon Ofel (international name: Usagi) intensifies and nears super typhoon status on early Thursday,.

State meteorologists on Thursday lifted the highest wind signal in Cagayan as Ofel decelerates from a super typhoon into a typhoon. In its 2:00 p.m. update, Ofel was

Ofel made landfall in Cagayan and weakened into a typhoon on Thursday afternoon, the state weather bureau said.