PAGASA: Super Typhoon Lawin could have same impact as Yolanda

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — 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.

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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

The Department of Interior and Local Government said preemptive evacuations are underway in Cagayan, Isabela, and Ilocos Norte.

It also advised residents in the Cordillera Administrative Region to head to stable evacuation centers.

DILG also advised tourists to evacuate immediately.

The national weather station predicts Lawin will be out of the Philippine area of responsibility by Thursday evening or Friday morning.

CNN Philippines correspondent Ivy Saunar contributed to this report.