Philippines evacuates coast as typhoon nears

The Philippines evacuated northern coastal villages, suspended ferry services and called in fishing boats on Friday as an approaching category-five storm, already labeled a super typhoon, gained strength on a path set for southern China.

With center winds of 205 kph (127 mph) and gusts of up to 240 kph, Typhoon Usagi, the strongest storm to hit the Western Pacific this year, was moving northwest at 19 kph between the Philippines and Taiwan and headed for south China.

Chinese authorities on Friday issued a disaster relief alert for typhoon Usagi, which is expected to hit coastal regions of southern China's Guangdong province on Sunday, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The warning was issued by the National Disaster Reduction Commission and the Ministry of Civil Affairs, urging local civil authorities to prepare for emergencies and minimize possible losses caused by the typhoon, the 19th to strike China this year.

A Filipino braves strong waves at a coastal village in Pasay city, south of Manila on Friday. At least three major dams in Luzon Island kept their spill gates open, and residents in many areas had to evacuate. Provided to China Daily

In the Philippines, storm alerts have been raised on the rice and coconut-growing island of Batanes and 15 provinces on the Philippines' main island of Luzon, the weather bureau said.

Tropical Storm Risk, which forecasts weather and advises on insurance and risk, labels storms from one to five, with five the strongest.

"Our people there know the drill, but we have also issued warnings to take safety precautions," Philippine Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said. "We're praying it doesn't create death and destruction."

A typhoon hit Batanes in 1987, destroying all roads as the water level surged as high as 25 feet (7 meters).

"Practically all our coconut trees broke in half," Abad said.

Power and communications in the area have been cut off for safety reasons and hospitals were put on alert as disaster agencies stocked up on food and water. Troops were also on standby.

Usagi was expected to batter the northernmost islands overnight on Friday. It is also likely to weaken before it hits southern China on Sunday night.

An average of 20 typhoons hit the Philippines every year. In 2011, Typhoon Washi killed 1,200 people, destroyed more than 10,000 homes and displaced 300,000 people.

Bopha, the strongest storm to hit last year, flattened three coastal towns on the southern island of Mindanao, killing 1,100 people and destroying tons of crops, property and infrastructure worth $1.04 billion.