TYPHOON “Lawin” could be a destructive super typhoon when it makes landfall in Northern Luzon early on Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Tuesday.
A super typhoon is a tropical cyclone with wind speeds exceeding 220 kilometers per hour.
“The estimated intensity of ‘Lawin’ at landfall is between 200 kph and 220 kph,” weather forecaster Benison Estareja said.
He said the government will raise Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 4 if “Lawin””•international name “Haima””•reaches such intensity.
He made his statement even as an expert said the people in the danger areas in Northern Luzon should be evacuated before the typhoon strikes.
“They must be moved to safer ground while there’s still time,” said Lilian Rollan of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.
She said a number of areas across in the north were susceptible to flooding and landslides.
Pagasa warned of possible “moderate” to “very heavy” damage to the structures in the areas under Signal No. 4, adding severe agricultural losses were also possible in those areas.
The agency’s weather bulletin No. 4 released Tuesday said “Lawin” will make landfall Thursday morning in the Cagayan area.
“Very strong winds and heavy rainfall can be expected there,” weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said.
Weathermen on Tuesday raised Signal No. 1 over Cagayan province and Calayan islands.
Signal No. 1 has also been raised over Apayao, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Ifugao, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Catanduanes, Aurora province’s northern areas and Polillo Island.