Severe Tropical Storm Pepito (international name: Man-yi) gathered more strength and is now a typhoon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical

PAGASA said Severe Tropical Storm Pepito (Man-Yi) has intensified significantly and is approaching typhoon strength, while Typhoon Ofel (Usagi) has begun to weaken as it moves over Luzon Strait early Friday,

Meanwhile, PAGASA said Typhoon Ofel weakened into a severe tropical storm. “TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATE for Severe Tropical Storm OFEL {USAGI} #OfelPH and Typhoon PEPITO {MAN-YI} #PepitoPH as of 10:00 AM today,

Typhoon Ofel (international name: Usagi) swamped rural villages in floods, knocked down power and displaced thousands more people before blowing away on Friday from the northern Philippines, which has now been pounded by five major storms in less than a month.

Typhoon Usagi has swamped rural villages in floods, knocked down power and displaced thousands more people before blowing away from the northern Philippines, which has been pounded by five major storms in less than a month.