Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — It’s looking like a stormy Christmas ahead in Luzon and Visayas, as typhoon Nina maintained strength on Saturday, weather forecasters said.
Nina is packing maximum winds of up to 175 km/h near its center, and gusts of up to 215 km/h, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in its 8 p.m. bulletin.
The typhoon, still traveling west northwest at 15 km/h, is now located 355 km east of Virac, Catanduanes.
PAGASA predicts the typhoon will intensify further before it reaches Catanduanes, where it is expected to make landfall on the evening of Christmas Day.
Storm signals have been raised throughout Luzon and Visayas.
Provinces under Signal Number 2:
Camarines Sur
Masbate (including Ticao & Burias Island)
Catanduanes
Albay
Sorsogon
Northern Samar
Provinces under Signal Number 1:
Metro Manila
Bulacan
Cavite
Laguna
Batangas
Rizal
Quezon including Polillo Island
Camarines Norte
Aurora
Romblon
Marinduque
Occidental Mindoro (including Lubang Island)
Oriental Mindoro
Aklan
Capiz
Samar
Eastern Samar
Biliran
Leyte
Bantayan Island
The weather bureau warns the affected areas of possible landslides, flashfloods, and storm surges of up to two meters in coastal areas.
PAGASA said sea travel is risky in the seas off northern Luzon and in the east off Central Luzon due to the storm surges from both Nina and the northeast monsoon, or Amihan.
Disaster management officials on high alert
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Spokesperson Mina Marasigan said sea travel has been suspended by the Philippine Coast Guard and exhorted passengers to cancel any plans of travel to avoid being stranded in the affected ports.
The coast guard said more than 5,000 people, 144 roll-on-roll-off vessels, and 28 other motorized boats were stranded in ports in the Bicol region and Eastern Visayas as of 12 noon Saturday.
Bus companies plying routes along typhoon Nina’s path have been urged to postpone their coming scheduled trips.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board ordered buses still in terminals to halt travel to the South to prevent further port congestion.
NDRRMC has placed villages in Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, and Camarines Norte under preemptive evacuation.
Figures on the number of families being evacuated were still being compiled, Marasigan said.
Around 600 families in Guinobatan, Albay are now undergoing mandatory evacuation, says a CNN Philippines reporter in the area.
He also said more than 2,000 people are currently stranded in Matnog Port in Sorsogon, a jumpoff point from Luzon to Visayas.
Authorities said the line of vehicles at the port due to cancelled ferry trips since Friday has now reached more than 4 km.
NDRRMC is coordinating with local government, police, military, and firefighting units on safety measures and possible relief operations in the affected areas.
Marasigan said they are on “blue alert” status. This is the second highest level to “red alert.” Once on “red alert,” all agencies under the NDRRMC must report to their headquarters for duty.
Typhoon ‘Nina’ is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday.
From 1948 to 2015, PAGASA has recorded seven typhoons that entered the Philippines within the period of December 21 to 31.
This is a developing story. Please refresh the page for updates.
