Philippines on red alert as Super Typhoon Noru approaches
The Philippines has issued an extreme emergency alert as Super Typhoon Noru approaches.
The storm, known locally as Super Typhoon Karding, reached super typhoon status early on Sunday morning local time in the Philippines after suddenly intensifying.
“The highest emergency preparedness and response protocol have been activated in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and the Bicol region,” said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
It urged the public to take care, adding strong winds are expected to hit within the next 18 hours.
The typhoon is expected to make landfall in the northern part of Quezon or the southern part of Aurora in the evening, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on a live hourly television bulletin.
It said it does not rule out an earlier landfall in Polillo Islands in the afternoon.
Schools in multiple cities including Muntinlupa City and Aurora suspended classes for Monday, Sept. 26, due to the approaching storm.
Noru now has winds equal to a category 5 US hurricane.
It is expected to bring large waves and storm surges, torrential rains, and winds in excess of 200 kph (124 mph) to Luzon over the next 24 hours.
PAGASA issued a warning for the Polillo Islands in anticipation of extensive damage that could be caused by the storm.
The warning comes after the storm rapidly intensified in the early hours of Sunday.
Agencies