Update | Typhoon Matmo on course to strike Taiwan as Rammasun death toll rises
A major storm that is forecast to become a typhoon is churning its way across the Pacific on a path that could see it batter Taiwan as soon as Wednesday.
A major storm that is forecast to become a typhoon is churning its way across the Pacific on a path that could see it strike Taiwan as soon as Wednesday.
Typhoon Matmo was centred some 720km east-northeast of Manila at noon today and was heading towards Taiwan, the Hong Kong Observatory said.
The disaster-weary Philippines, still reeling from last week's assault by Rammasun, was bracing for more rain as Matmo strengthens and edges towards the country's northern provinces, increasing the risk of flash floods and landslides.
"Matmo has entered the Philippine area of responsibility. We should get ready now before the heavy rains fall," President Benigno Aquino's spokeswoman, Abigail Valte, warned yesterday in a government radio broadcast.
READ: China's Red Cross blasted after sending quilts to sweltering typhoon disaster zone
The Observatory predicted that Matmo would become a typhoon before reaching Taiwan. It had earlier predicted that is would become a 'super typhoon' - a storm with sustained winds of over 185km/h - as it crossed the South China Sea after passing the Philippines.
