Kai-Tak, packing gusts of up to 100 kilometres an hour, is poised to land inthe north of the country's third-largest island Samar overnight of December 16 beforeslicing across the central Philippines, said the Philippine state weatherservice.
More heavy rain is expected in the eastern Philippines in the coming hours, alongwith flooding in low-lying areas and landslides in the uplands.
Over 38,000 local residents eople have moved to evacuation camps, after days ofheavy rain unleashed by the approaching storm caused floods and landslides onSamar and nearby Leyte islands.
The islands, with a combined population of about 4.5 million, had borne thebrunt of super typhoon Haiyan four years ago, which left more than 7,350 peopledead or missing.
Ferry services on the two islands remain suspended due to rough sea. Threefishermen were also missing despite government warnings against sailing. A babygirl and a woman were also injured in landslides near Tacloban, Leyte's largestcity.
About 20 typhoons make landfall in the Philippines or reach its waters eachyear.-VNA