LEGAZPI CITY — Classes and sea travel in several towns in Masbate province were suspended on Friday due to the threat posed by Tropical Storm Basyang. Local government units ordered the suspension of classes at all levels in both public and private schools in the towns of Palanas, Mobo, Aroroy, Cawayan, and Dimasalang. The Philippine Coast Guard also suspended sea travel for all vessels and watercraft operating within the southern portion of the island province. In its 8 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagsasa) said Basyang was located over the Bohol Sea and moving toward Central Visayas. Pagasa said the storm was moving west-northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour (kph), packing winds of up to 65 kph near the center and gusts of up to 90 kph.

A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck Masbate province, the Philippines on Wednesday night, with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reporting the epicenter was located nine kilometers northwest of Cataingan town. The tremor occurred at 9:14 p.m. and was felt at Intensity II in Legazpi City, Albay; Milagros, Masbate; Kawayan, Biliran; and at Intensity I in the towns of Aroroy and Batuan, Masbate; Palapag, Northern Samar; Gandara, Samar; as well as Sorsogon City and Donsol in Sorsogon province, News.Az reports, citing foreign media. The earthquake was tectonic in origin and had a depth of focus of 10 kilometers.

Segun ki BFP Aroroy Chief Operations FO2 Jonard Saragoza, sa intrevista kan Bombo Radyo Legazpi, na pag-abot ninda sa pinangyarihan kan insidente nagkakalayo na an nasambit na harong asin tulos man ninda ining inaksyunan kun saen maabot sa 30 minuto bago ini maapula.

For at least three days, residents of Masbate are facing prolonged and frequent power outages due to ongoing technical issues at the D.M. Consunji, Inc. (DMCI) Thermal Power Plant, the province's main power provider. The situation began on February 15, 2025 at 9 p.m. when the Masbate Electric Cooperative, Incorporated (MASELCO) confirmed an unscheduled power interruption following a total shutdown at the DMCI Thermal Power Plant. The outage affected all feeders across the province, with no estimated time for restoration. By February 16, the power interruptions continued. A total of four areas were still affected across 12 municipalities.

Nagpatupad ng forced evacuation ang lokal na pamahalaan ng bayan ng Aroroy Masbate partikular na sa mga lugar na maaaring bahain dulot ng Bagyong Opong. Ayon kay Aroroy Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Head Ronnie Atacador, sa panayam ng Bombo Radyo Legazpi, halos nasa evacuation centers ang mga residenteng prone sa pagbaha gayundin ang mga nasa gilid ng baybaying dagat. Aniya, karamihan sa mga residente ay sumusunod sa kanilang mga abiso. Dagdag pa ng opisyal, sa kasalukuyan, mahigit nasa 1,500 indibidwal na ang nasa evacuation centers. Samantala, pinaalalahanan din ni Atacador ang mga residente ng Aroroy na maging maingat, alerto at subaybayan ang lagay ng panahon sa lahat ng oras.

Three people were killed and 10 others injured in Masbate as Typhoon #OpongPH battered the province on Friday, September 26, 2025, while a series of tremors were recorded across the island. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said two of the fatalities were from Masbate City, one crushed by a falling tree and another by a collapsed wall. Power lines and trees were also toppled, cutting electricity in several areas. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Opong made four landfalls since evening on Thursday, September 25.

Police have arrested nine Chinese nationals in a joint law enforcement operation against illegal mining activities in Aroroy, Masbate. In a statement Wednesday, acting Philippine National Police chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the nine suspects were nabbed during a joint law enforcement operation in Barangay Cabangcalan and Barangay Pangle, both in Aroroy on Sept. 22. Authorities seized from the suspects heavy equipment used in the operations, including five dump trucks, six backhoes, one Sino truck trailer, two loaders, a generator set, two unserviceable SUVs, and one pickup truck. The apprehended foreign nationals were turned over to the Bureau of Immigration for documentation, profiling, and appropriate legal action. They were brought to Masbate Port on the same day and transported aboard a RoRo vessel bound for Pio Duran Port.

It may take at least a month to restore power to all areas of Masbate province, which has declared a state of calamity in the wake of Severe Tropical Storm Opong, its governor said Sunday. He also said that aid from the national government has already reached the province's towns as work to clear roads of debris continues. "They gave us an estimate of one month para ma-restore yung power sa buong probinsya ng Masbate… I think at least 30 days for the whole province," Gov. Richard Kho said, citing information from Masbate Electric Cooperative, Inc.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday announced the temporary suspension of sea travels in Masbate and Sorsogon due to Tropical Depression (TD) Verbena. In a situation report, the PCG said all voyages of vessels and watercraft within the areas of responsibility of PCG stations Masbate and Sorsogon going to Surigao del Norte are covered by the suspension. The suspension is in response to Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 being raised over mainland Masbate and Surigao del Norte by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Former world title challenger Jeo Santisima of the Cebu-based ZIP Sanman Boxing Team aims to bring home the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Inter-Continental super featherweight title when he faces defending champion Angelo Peña on December 26 in Bern, Switzerland. The 29-year-old pride of Aroroy, Masbate nicknamed “Santino” takes on Peña, a 31-year-old unbeaten Dominican prospect now fighting out of Switzerland. The matchup was officially announced by Sanman Boxing earlier this week. Their bout will headline the Swiss Pro Boxing fight card.