Early on Wednesday, a strong typhoon hit the northern Philippines, posing the risk of tidal surges, flash floods, and landslides that could be fatal in some areas of the main island.
According to Pagasa, the Philippine weather service, typhoon Doksuri, also known as Egay, hit land around 3:10 a.m. local time (3:10 p.m. ET) close to the remote Fuga Island.
Despite having lost some of its super typhoon intensity, Doksuri still had winds of roughly 220 kilometres per hour (140 mph), which is the same as an Atlantic hurricane of category 4.
As torrential rains blanketed the nation, Pagasa warned that violent and life-threatening circumstances might be expected in some sections of Luzon, the largest and most populous island in the Philippines.
The typhoon has already dropped up to 16 inches (0.4 metres) of rain, and its 680-kilometer (420-mile) rainband might drop up to 20 inches (0.5 metres), raising the possibility of flash floods and landslides in the hilly northern regions, according to Pasgasa.
Additionally, authorities issued a 3 metre (almost 10 foot) tide surge warning.
The typhoon’s anticipated winds of up to 200 kph (124 mph) are expected to have a significant impact on the communities in its path. Local governments started evacuating some residents who were in the storm’s path on Tuesday.
More than 12,000 people had been evacuated by Tuesday evening from at least a dozen coastal and mountain villages, according to the governor of Cagayan province, which has closed its offices and cancelled classes.
“It’s a powerful typhoon, and we want to take as many preventive measures as we can,” said Governor Cagayan Manuel Mamba.
Authorities also cancelled at least 12 domestic flights from Wednesday to Friday.
Taiwan and China are on high alert due to the potential for heavy rain and strong gusts.
On Tuesday, Taiwan postponed a number of its yearly military drills as it got ready for what may be the strongest typhoon to hit the autonomous island in four years.
Eastern Taiwan is currently being impacted by the typhoon’s outer bands, according to the Central Weather Bureau of the island. As it moves northwest, it is anticipated to continue to weaken until it is only a category 1 hurricane, with the possibility of making a second landfall in the next two days on China’s southern coastline.
As Doksuri is expected to make landfall by Friday around the southeast coast where the provinces of Fujian and Guangdong meet, China’s National Meteorological Centre on Wednesday upgraded its typhoon emergency warning to the highest level.
Fishing boats have been ordered by Chinese authorities to return to port immediately, while farmers have been admonished to take precautions to prevent crop flooding.