Super Typhoon Lawin might have same impact as Yolanda - PAGASA

Super Typhoon Lawin (international name: Haima) could have the same devastating impact as Typhoon Yolanda, state weather bureau PAGASA forecaster Aldczar Aurelio warned on Wednesday.

In its 5 p.m. update on Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the center of the typhoon was located 275 kilometers east southeast of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan as of 4 p.m. It continues to threaten the Cagayan-Isabela area.

Lawin intensified into a super typhoon on Wednesday afternoon. Super typhoons have maximum wind speed exceeding 220 kph. PAGASA said Lawin is packing maximum sustained winds of 225 kph near the center, and its gustiness is at 315 kph.

It warned that rainfall amount will be moderate to heavy within the 800 km diameter of the super typhoon.

Lawin is expected to make landfall in the Cagayan-Isabela area either 11 p.m. Wednesday or 2 a.m. Thursday. After it makes landfall, Lawin is expected to cross Apayao and Ilocos Norte.

It is forecast to move west northwest at 25 kph.

Signal No. 5 has been raised over:

Cagayan
Isabela
Kalinga
Apayao
PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio described the possible impact of the super typhoon to these areas, "Delubyo. Hindi nalalayo sa pinsala ng Yolanda."

Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) was one of the deadliest typhoons recorded in Philippine history. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) confirmed that around 6,300 people died last November 2013.

During the onslaught of super typhoons, there is a possibility of heavy damage to structures and disruption of power and communication lines.

It may even cause roofs to be blown away and trees to be uprooted.

PAGASA said this is the first time it has raised Signal No. 5 since updating its classification of tropical cyclones in 2015.

Signal No. 4 has been raised over:

Ilocos Norte
Abra
Ilocos Sur
Mt. Province
Ifugao
Calayan Group of Islands

Signal No. 3 has been raised over:

La Union
Benguet
Nueva Vizcaya
Quirino
Northern Aurora

Signal No. 2 has been raised over:

Batanes Group of Islands
Pangasinan
rest of Aurora
Tarlac
Nueva Ecija
Northern Zambales
Northern Quezon including Polillo Islands

Signal No. 1 has been raised over:

rest of Zambales
Bulacan
Bataan
Pampanga
Rizal
rest of Quezon
Cavite
Laguna
Batangas
Camarines Norte
Camarines Sur
Catanduanes
Albay
Metro Manila