Philippine authorities issued warnings on Tuesday for potential flooding in low-lying villages, landslides, and rough seas in the two northernmost provinces as Typhoon Mekkhala churned offshore. The typhoon was last tracked over the Pacific about 375 kilometers northeast of Aparri in Cagayan province, packing sustained winds of up to 175 kph, according to the country's weather agency.
Storm Path and Warnings
Mekkhala was moving northwestward at 10 kph and was not expected to make landfall. However, its wide rain and wind band could batter the eastern coasts of Cagayan and Batanes, an island province further north. The first of a five-step tropical cyclone wind warning was hoisted over the northeastern coastal areas, prohibiting boats from heading out to sea. Disaster-mitigation personnel were placed on alert in vulnerable villages and towns.
Forecast Trajectory
The typhoon was forecast to pass nearest to the coast of Batanes on Wednesday, about 275 kilometers offshore, before heading past Taiwan's east coast and then blowing toward Japan's southern main island of Kyushu on Saturday. The Philippines is battered by about 20 typhoons and storms each year, and is also frequently hit by earthquakes and has more than a dozen active volcanoes, making it one of the world's most disaster-prone countries.
