Super Typhoon Chedeng turned into weak tropical depression on Holy Week

(CNN Philippines) – The erstwhile super typhoon earlier feared to pummel the Philippines on Holy Week turned out to be a weak tropical depression when Chedeng eventually made landfall in Isabela around mid-morning of Easter Sunday (April 5).

Once described as Super Typhoon Maysak (international name) with the strength of a category 5 hurricane, Tropical Depression Chedeng weakened significantly as it made landfall along the shores of Dinapigue, Isabela sometime between 8:00-9:00 a.m. Sunday.

The dramatic decrease of Chedeng’s typhoon intensity also prompted the country’s national disaster agency to celebrate with a thanksgiving mass held inside the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) office.

"Today is Easter Sunday and we want to highlight it along with a thanksgiving mass, since we were spared from a possible calamity," said NDRRMC executive director Alexander Pama.

As of 2 p.m., data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) showed the eye of Chedeng at 95 km southeast of Laoag City or in the vicinity of Piat, Cagayan.

With reduced wind strength of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of 75 kph, Chedeng is now moving across the northern part of Luzon and is expected to continue moving on a northwestward direction towards the West Philippine Sea in the next 12 hours.

A report from Reuters said hundreds of residents in the coastal towns of Isabela and Aurora have already left evacuation centers to return home after Chedeng’s landfall on Sunday, although officials still warned of heavy rain and rough seas.

The national disaster agency said no reports of casualties had been received, but warned residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes to remain vigilant for possible heavy rains, flash floods, and landslides.

As of posting time, Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1 is hoisted over Kalinga, Isabela, Ifugao, and Mountain Province while all storm warning signals elsewhere had been lowered.

Super Typhoon heading towards northeastern Philippines few days ago

While there were still some travel restrictions, the weakening of the storm was generally good news as millions of Filipinos began returning to Manila from beaches and mountain resorts after the four-day Holy Week break.

Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Austere Panadero said the local governments were still on alert and ready to respond for any possible casualties.

"We have advised the LGUs (local government units) to assist with the security and safety of the residents and the traveling public," he said.

Based on data collected by Weather Philippines Foundation, Inc., TD Chedeng is maintaining a weakening trend, eventually dissipating into a low pressure area (LPA) when it emerges over the northwestern coast of Ilocos Norte early Sunday evening. It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Monday morning (April 6) on its way to Southern China.

About 20 major typhoons pass through the Philippines yearly. Almost 8,000 people were killed or missing after Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan), a category 5 typhoon, struck Eastern Visayas in 2013.

Maysak, which carried winds of about 250 kph at its peak, killed nine people as it barreled through the sparsely populated Federated States of Micronesia east of the Philippines, smashing houses and destroying crops.

Reuters contributed to this report.