‘Carina’ now a super typhoon en route to Taiwan - PAGASA

Metro Manila, Philippines -- Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi) has developed into a super typhoon en route to Taiwan, the state weather bureau said on Wednesday.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA has upgraded Carina's status as it veered towards the tip of Luzon northwestward with maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center – the eye of the super typhoon at Itbayat, Batanes. It pounded the island six hours earlier with maximum sustained winds of 165 kph.

PAGASA recorded its gust of up to 230 kph.

The super typhoon is expected to make landfall over the northern portion of Taiwan tonight, and exit the Philippine area of responsibility Thursday morning, PAGASA said.

“Carina has reached its peak intensity as a super typhoon prior to its landfall over Taiwan due to favorable environment. Its landfall over northern Taiwan will trigger a weakening trend for the rest of the forecast period,” PAGASA said.

Batanes remains under Signal no. 2 as of 5 p.m., while the following areas are under Signal no. 1:

+ Babuyan Islands

+ northern portion of mainland Cagayan (Claveria, Santa Praxedes, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Abulug, Ballesteros, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Santa Teresita, Santa Ana, Gonzaga)

+ northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Burgos, Bangui, Pagudpud, Dumalneg, Adams) - L. Calderon