The typhoon, which is gaining strength as it proceeds to southern China, is expected to make landfall over the country’s far north
As of 11am, maximum sustained winds of 215 km/h (134mph) were reported at the storm’s center, with gusts reaching up to 265km/h (165mph) as it moved westward towards the Babuyans, the national weather service said.
“I woke up because of the strong wind. It was hitting the windows, and it sounded like a machine that was switched on,” said Tirso Tugagao, a resident of Aparri, a coastal town in northern Cagayan province.
“I’m seeing from my house here that the high waves are crashing onto the shore,” the 45-year-old teacher said. “I pray everyone will be safe.”
Cagayan disaster chief Rueli Rapsing said that his team was prepared for “the worst”.
