Manila, Philippines — Philippine authorities issued a warning on Tuesday about potential flooding in low‑lying communities, landslides, and rough seas across the nation’s two northernmost provinces as a strong typhoon continued its offshore trajectory.
Typhoon Mekkhala was last observed over the Pacific before midday, located roughly 375 kilometers (230 miles) northeast of Aparri in Cagayan Province, with sustained winds reaching up to 175 kph (110 mph), according to the country’s meteorological agency.
Mekkhala was traveling northwestward at 10 kph (6 mph) and was not anticipated to make landfall; however, its expansive rain bands and wind forces could intensify the eastern coasts of Cagayan and the island province of Batanes, officials noted.
A preliminary tropical‑cyclone wind warning — level one of a five‑step scale — has been issued for the northeastern coastal zones, restricting maritime activities in those areas. Emergency‑response teams have been placed on standby in vulnerable villages and towns.
The cyclone is projected to skirt the Batanes coastline on Wednesday, staying approximately 275 kilometers (170 miles) offshore, before gradually shifting toward Taiwan’s eastern seaboard and eventually moving on to Japan’s Kyushu island on Saturday.
The Philippines experiences roughly 20 tropical cyclones and storms annually, and the archipelago is also prone to seismic activity and hosts over a dozen active volcanoes, rendering it among the world’s most disaster‑vulnerable regions.
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