Gonzalo Jiménez
(CNN) A powerful storm sweeping across the Pacific Ocean towards the Philippines has intensified into a super typhoon, and forecasters warn it could hit the northern part of the country before hitting mainland China later this week.
Super Typhoon Doksuri has wind speeds of around 240 km/h and corresponds to a Category 4 Atlantic hurricane.
The storm is moving north-northwest at a speed of 15 km/h and is expected to pass over or near the Philippines’ Babuyan Islands in the next 24 hours, according to the country’s weather bureau.
In addition to strong winds, significant rainfall is also expected, particularly in the Babuyan Islands and northern Luzon, the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. “Under these conditions, rain-related flooding and landslides are very likely,” the agency warned.
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There is also a risk of a large storm surge, with the maximum storm surge height exceeding three meters, the bureau added.
Doksuri, also known as Egay in the Philippines, is expected to continue moving northwest, passing the east side of Taiwan, where heavy rains are expected, and Hong Kong before hitting southern China later this week.
The China National Meteorological Center expects Doksuri to hit the coastal regions of eastern Fujian and Guangdong provinces on Friday morning. Fujian province on Tuesday raised its typhoon emergency warning to the third-highest level, urging fishing boats to return to port as soon as possible.
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The typhoon’s exact path is still uncertain, however, and the Hong Kong Observatory said over the weekend there were several possible routes it could take.
The observatory said the typhoon’s final trajectory will be determined by a variety of factors, such as subtropical mountain ridges, which provide high air pressure, or monsoon valleys, which provide low air pressure.
Communities exposed to the typhoon are now preparing for the impact. Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday suspended all classes in public schools and closed government offices in the capital region except for those providing essential services. The suspension was also partly due to a three-day strike by transport workers.
The Philippines also urged people living in “high risk” areas to obey evacuation orders and other guidance from local authorities.
Doksuri turned into a super typhoon on Tuesday morning.
The Hong Kong Observatory has urged the public to keep an eye on weather reports, warning that the typhoon will bring intense heat and thunderstorms before it arrives. Just a week ago, the city experienced another storm, Typhoon Talim, which prompted authorities to close schools and the stock exchange.
Strong wind warnings have been issued for the southern part of Taiwan, particularly the coasts of Taitung and Pingtung counties. These will intensify as Doksuri approaches the island, with the main threats being heavy rain, landslides, strong winds and storm surges.
The CNN Wire
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