Typhoon intensifies before striking north Philippines

A typhoon set to hit the northern Philippines intensified further Saturday, with the country’s weather agency warning the storm could linger over the archipelago.

Typhoon Koppu -- locally named "Lando" -- has maximum sustained winds of 175 kph (109 mph) near the center and gusts of up to 210 kph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

A 5 p.m. PAGASA bulletin cited by ABS-CBN News said that Koppu is expected to make landfall over northeastern Aurora province by Sunday morning.

PAGASA has placed Aurora under warning signal 4, meaning it could experience winds of between 171 and 220 kph in at least 12 hours.

Metro Manila has been listed among the areas under signal 2 that may be exposed to winds of 61 - 120 kph expected in at least 24 hours.

Esperanza Cayanan, PAGASA weather division chief, told reporters that Koppu is expected to remain within the Philippines’ area of responsibility longer due to another typhoon called "Champi" to the east, which has also been lingering in the region due to a high pressure area to the north.

ABS-CBN quoted Cayanan as saying that Koppu was moving west at 10 kph, and after making landfall, was expected to move north to the vicinity of Kalinga province Monday afternoon.

She advised fishermen to not venture over the seaboards of the northern Luzon and central Visayas islands, as well as the eastern seaboard of southern Mindanao.

President Benigno Aquino III had earlier advised the public to undertake the necessary preparation as the country braces for the typhoon.

In his first personal advisory on television since super Typhoon Haiyan struck the central Philippines in November 2013, leaving more than 7,300 dead, he called on residents not to panic.

"Let us prepare as we should monitor the news, and understand the warnings issued by national and local governments, from storm signals, rainfall warnings, storm surge advisories, and advisories regarding the necessary evacuations if needed,” he said.

PAGASA had earlier said that heavy to intense rainfall is expected within Koppu's 550 kilometer (340 mile) diameter.

AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Douty had told ABS-CBN that Koppu will not only strengthen as it approaches the Philippines but will also slow down significantly.

"The combination of a powerful and slow-moving typhoon could spell a disastrous situation for residents and communities in its path, which will be northern Luzon Island in Koppu's case," he said.

While dangerous flooding is the primary concern, Koppu will also bring the threat of damaging winds, coastal flooding and extremely rough seas to northern Luzon.

Koppu is the 24th named storm of 2015 in the northwest Pacific Ocean and the 15th to reach typhoon strength.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development said in a statement Friday it had already allocated P128 million ($2.8 million) in standby funds for possible evacuees and victims of the typhoon.

The Philippines suffers around 20 typhoons and storms each year, many of them deadly.