MANILA – A powerful super typhoon packing winds of up to 230 kph (143 mph) has slammed the northern Philippines, prompting authorities to warn of life-threatening storm surge and destructive winds across the region.
Typhoon Julian, which intensified into a super typhoon on Tuesday, was located 205 km (127 miles) west of the island municipality of Itbayat in Batanes province as of the latest update from the Philippine weather bureau PAGASA.
The weather disturbance is moving slowly westward, with Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 raised over Batanes, the Babuyan Islands, and parts of the Ilocos Norte and Cagayan provinces. Residents in these areas are being advised to brace for gale-force winds.
“We’re extremely concerned about the risk of life-threatening storm surge in the next 48 hours, particularly in the low-lying coastal areas of Batanes and the Babuyan Group of Islands,” said PAGASA weather specialist Joey Figuracion. “People living in these vulnerable locations should urgently follow evacuation instructions from local authorities.”
Powerful gusts are also forecast for a wider swathe of northern and central Luzon, including the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, parts of Cagayan Valley, Aurora, Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, and the Calabarzon region. Widespread power outages and infrastructure damage are likely.
With Julian still have a window for further intensification, PAGASA warned that the super typhoon poses a serious threat to the northern Philippines in the coming days. Residents are advised to closely monitor updates and heed all safety warnings from government agencies.
